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I’m working on being more consistent about sharing the books I’ve been reading lately. Today, I’m excited to dive into six mystery and thriller titles that have caught my attention, and I read in January and February. Most of these are new releases, and I’m eager to share my thoughts with you. Let’s get into it!
6 Mystery & Thriller Books I Read in January & February
The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Format: Audiobook – Narrator: Emily Pike Stewart
GR Rating: 3.66
My GR Rating: 3
Read more on GoodReads.
GR Description: Emlyn doesn’t let herself think about the past.
How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the man she thought was the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead on the side of the road three years ago.
Her new life is simple and safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide, spending her days in Idaho’s endless woods and scenic rivers. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer, her closest friends a handsome and kind Forest Service ranger and the community’s makeshift reverend, who took her in at her lowest.
But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa, it turns out, has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. But she hasn’t posted lately, and when she does, it’s from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. In spite of their fractured history, Emlyn knows she might be the only one with the knowledge and tracking skills to save her friend, so she reluctantly teams up with Tyler. As the two trace Janessa’s path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can’t deny there’s still chemistry crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods―and that Janessa isn’t the only one in danger.
My Review:
This was my first book by this author, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I had difficulty getting into the story, and the mystery didn’t capture my interest. It took a direction I didn’t enjoy, and by the end, it felt flat and underwhelming. I really wanted to like it, but it ended up being just a mediocre read for me.
On the positive side, the setting and atmosphere were well-crafted. The forest backdrop really added to the immersion and kept me curious about where the story would go. I also appreciated the use of past and present timelines, which helped reveal more about the characters and their history.
This story felt very character-driven, but unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with any of them. Weeks later, I find myself forgetting much of the plot. There also wasn’t enough tension, suspense, or conflict to keep me engaged; I was often bored. It’s definitely a slow burn, and it took a while to pick up any real momentum.
Despite my experience with this book, I’m still curious about this author’s other works. I’ve heard great things about her books, so I plan to give her another try.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Format: Audiobook – Narrators: Leslie Howard, Hillary Huber, and Sara Morsey
GR Rating: 4.05
My GR Rating: 3
Read more on GoodReads.
GR Description: There’s power in a book…
They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.
Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who knows she’s going to go home and marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.
Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid…and it’s usually paid in blood.
My Review:
This was my second book by this author, and it left me disappointed. I expected a lot more magic, suspense, and true horror elements, but it fell short in all those areas.
I listened to the audiobook, and I have to say that the narrator did a fantastic job. The chanting, screaming, and even the childbirth scenes were all performed with impressive intensity. But while the narration was engaging, the story itself didn’t quite deliver what I hoped for.
This book gave me Girl, Interrupted vibes but set in the 1970s at a home for pregnant teen girls. The setting and time period were vividly described, and Hendrix really nailed the oppressive, sweltering Florida summer. It also had some vibes of The Craft, but unfortunately, the witchy elements were minimal. If you’re looking for a book filled with magic, spells, and dark, supernatural thrills, this isn’t it. Instead, the story is more about a blood oath gone wrong and the consequences of trying to break it.
At 16 hours long, the audiobook felt way too drawn out for what actually happens. The pacing is slow, and while I usually enjoy a slow burn, there wasn’t enough payoff at the end to justify the length. The story is immersive and detailed—sometimes too detailed. Some of the descriptions, particularly the graphic childbirth scenes, were brutal and hard to get through. (Definitely check trigger warnings if you’re a sensitive reader.) There’s definitely body horror, but not much actual horror. I wanted more tension, more scares—something to make me feel uneasy. Instead, it read more like historical fiction with some dark elements sprinkled in.
I did enjoy the themes of female empowerment, and I liked the friendships between the girls, almost like a sisterhood (or coven). But most of the characters didn’t stand out, and I doubt I’ll remember them down the road.
Overall, this was fine, but it didn’t live up to its potential. If you enjoy historical fiction with a touch of fantasy and some body horror, you might like this. But if you’re looking for a true horror/thriller with heavy witchcraft elements, you may end up disappointed like I was. I’ll probably give Grady Hendrix another try, but so far, his books have been just okay for me.
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
Format: Audiobook – Narrator: Christine Lakin
GR Rating: 3.74
My GR Rating: 3
Read more on GoodReads.
GR Description: Two twins. An unbroken bond. A truth unspoken.
The only thing James and Johnny Golden have ever had is each other. For as long as she can remember, James’s deep connection with her twin brother, Johnny, has gone beyond intuition – she can feel what he feels. So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone – truly alone – for the first time in her life.
When James arrives in the rural town of Hawthorne, California to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to rehash the ominous past she and Johnny shared and finally face Micah, the only person who knows about it. He’s also the only man she’s ever loved.
But James soon discovers that the strange connection she had with Johnny isn’t quite gone, and the more she immerses herself into his world, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was keeping secrets, and he’s not the only one.
What she uncovers will push her to unravel what happened in the days before Johnny’s death, but in the end, she’ll have to decide which truths should come to light, and which should stay buried forever.
My Review:
I’ve always admired this author’s writing style—it’s beautiful, lyrical, and immersive. However, after reading three of her books, I’ve yet to find one that resonates with me fully, and this one was no exception. Despite my appreciation for her prose, I found myself feeling underwhelmed again. There’s a certain spark missing from these stories that leaves me disappointed, especially because I genuinely want to love her work. But I’m not ready to give up yet; I’m determined to keep reading, hoping for that four- or five-star read I know she’s capable of.
The pacing was another issue for me. The first half of the book dragged, and I found myself wishing for more action or development. While the mystery kept me engaged, my interest began to wane as the slow pace wore on. Thankfully, the second half picked up and became more engaging, but by then, the initial momentum had been lost. Ultimately, it didn’t live up to the expectations I had going into it.
One of the highlights, as always, was the author’s atmospheric writing. She does a fantastic job of creating a vivid setting, and I really enjoy the cozy small-town vibes she infuses into her stories. The plot was intriguing at first but became somewhat predictable. While a few twists surprised me, others were easy to guess.
Regarding the genre, many categorize this book as fantasy or magical realism, but for me, it felt more like a mystery/thriller with just a touch of magical realism. The eerie, haunting tone was present, but I didn’t feel the fantasy elements were strong enough to define the book that way.
The characters didn’t leave much of an impression on me. They felt forgettable, and I found myself struggling to recall details about them once I finished the book. As for the romance subplot, it felt somewhat forced and out of place, like it was added in to tick a box rather than to serve the story.
Overall, while this book didn’t work for me, I’d still recommend it if the premise sounds appealing. It might resonate more with other readers. As for me, I’ll continue to read from this author, hopeful that one day I’ll discover a story that clicks. Her writing is too beautiful to give up on just yet.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Format: NetGalley ARC – Audiobook – Narrator: Richard Armitage
GR Rating: 3.68
My GR Rating: 3
Read more on GoodReads.
GR Description: Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.
Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.
A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible — a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.
Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.
My Review:
I feel really conflicted about how to rate this story. It’s one of those books that I wanted to love, but ultimately left me feeling disappointed and somewhat frustrated. The first half had me hooked with its eerie atmosphere and compelling premise, but by the end, I was questioning everything, including the logic behind the twists. It’s messy, all over the place, and emotionally chaotic—much like my own experience reading it.
Let’s start with the positives. The audiobook was absolutely fantastic. The narrators did a stellar job, especially with the different voices and accents, and the added sound effects—like the ocean crashing or a walkie-talkie buzzing—enhanced the creepy atmosphere. The setting of an isolated island off the coast of Scotland really sets the tone for the book. It felt claustrophobic and ominous, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The first half had just enough suspense and mystery to keep me engaged, and I was eager to find out what was going on.
However, as the story progressed, my enthusiasm began to wane. Grady, the protagonist, got increasingly tiresome with his repetitive inner monologue. There was no real plot progression for the longest time. It was just Grady brooding, drinking, and reflecting on how much he hated people and loved dogs. I found myself waiting for the plot to kick in. And when it finally did, it took a full 65% of the book! The pacing was frustratingly slow.
Then came the twist—oh boy, the twist. At first, I was intrigued, but the further I got, the more implausible and laughable everything became. The plot seemed to be built entirely around the reveal, but when it came, I couldn’t take it seriously. It felt absurd, and many of the characters’ actions made no sense. And don’t even get me started on the convoluted backstory of the island, which felt like a narrative mess. There were too many ideas crammed into this book, making it feel cluttered and overstuffed. The full-circle moment at the end, where everything somehow ties together in an over-the-top reveal, just didn’t work for me. It felt forced and, frankly, ridiculous.
The characters were a major letdown. I never connected with any of them, and Grady in particular was hard to root for. He was whiny, entitled, and emotionally manipulative, and I found it difficult to care about his journey. The feminist themes felt heavy-handed and ultimately fell flat. The women-empowerment message didn’t quite hit home for me, as I had trouble understanding the characters’ motivations. The sense of justice at the end felt forced, and the unreliable narration left me feeling lost and disconnected from the story.
While there are elements in this book that may appeal to fans of isolated settings, missing persons, and shocking twists, for me, Beautiful Ugly was a wild ride in all the wrong ways. It was messy, melodramatic, and sometimes laughably absurd. It felt like Alice Feeney was trying too hard to create a twisty, suspenseful story, but it ended up being frustratingly tiresome. If you liked her book Rock, Paper, Scissors, you may see some similarities here, but I personally found it repetitive.
It’s a shame that this book didn’t deliver for me, especially since I’ve enjoyed her other books. I’m still holding out hope for her next book, though—after all, every author has a miss now and then.
Would I recommend this book? If you’re a fan of unreliable narrators, isolated settings, and mysterious twists, you might find something to enjoy. (Highly recommend the audiobook!) But if you’re like me and prefer a more tightly woven, believable story, you might want to pass on this one.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Format: Audiobook – Narrators: Alexandra Dowling and Jaye Jacobs
GR Rating: 3.79
My GR Rating: 4
Read more on GoodReads.
GR Description: It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends. But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder. Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer?
As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.
My Review:
Last year, I read this cozy mystery and rated it three stars. But when I received the ARC for the sequel coming out this spring, I realized I couldn’t remember much from the first book. So, I decided to reread it—through the audiobook again—and ended up enjoying it much more. On my second listen, I caught details I had missed the first time, and with a fresh perspective, I bumped my rating up to four stars. It turns out I hadn’t been paying as much attention during my first read, but when I fully immersed myself in the story, I really liked it.
I enjoyed the dual timelines, following the characters in both the past and present. This is a low-key murder mystery—no gory or graphic scenes—but it still had great pacing and kept me hooked. I also really liked the multi-generational family dynamic, which added depth to the story. We got to learn a lot about the characters in both timelines, which made the mystery even more engaging.
The plot was fairly complex, but once things started unraveling, I was completely intrigued. It kept me guessing the entire time—I couldn’t figure out the mystery at all! The ending took me by surprise, which is always a plus.
The book is marketed as being similar to Knives Out, and while I can see some similarities, I don’t think it quite lived up to that comparison. It fell a little short in that regard.
That said, if you enjoy cozy mysteries, toxic female friendships, and family secrets, this is definitely worth picking up. I’m excited to dive into my ARC of the sequel now. Definitely recommend!
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
Format: Audiobook – Narrators: Gary Furlong, Elle Newlands, Morag Sims, Imogen Church, and Moira Quirk
GR Rating: 3.61
My GR Rating: 4
Read more on GoodReads.
GR Description: All of them are friends. One of them is a killer.
During the languid days of the Christmas break, a group of thirtysomething friends from Oxford meet to welcome in the New Year together, a tradition they began as students ten years ago. For this vacation, they’ve chosen an idyllic and isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands—the perfect place to get away and unwind by themselves.
They arrive on December 30th, just before a historic blizzard seals the lodge off from the outside world.
Two days later, on New Year’s Day, one of them is dead.
The trip began innocently enough: admiring the stunning if foreboding scenery, champagne in front of a crackling fire, and reminiscences about the past. But after a decade, the weight of secret resentments has grown too heavy for the group’s tenuous nostalgia to bear. Amid the boisterous revelry of New Year’s Eve, the cord holding them together snaps.
Now one of them is dead . . . and another of them did it.
Keep your friends close, the old adage goes. But just how close is too close?
My Review:
Lucy Foley delivers a masterfully atmospheric and immersive slow-burn murder mystery in The Hunting Party. Set against the snowy, isolated Highlands of Scotland, this book exudes an ominous, foreboding vibe that pulls you into the chilling dynamics of an exclusive New Year’s getaway gone wrong.
One of the standout aspects of this novel is the full-cast audiobook narration. The narrators are exceptional, each bringing their characters to life with distinct voices and captivating accents that enhance the story’s depth and intrigue. The short chapters also make the pacing feel brisk, keeping the suspense alive as the story alternates between past and present timelines across five character POVs.
Foley skillfully weaves a complex web of envy, secrets, and lies within a tightly knit group of old friends. While there are many characters, once you get familiar with who’s who, the story flows seamlessly. Each POV offers a fresh perspective, allowing readers to piece together the dynamics of this group and their hidden tensions. The narrative is more character-focused than plot-driven, delving deep into the relationships and backstories that lead to the ultimate murder.
This is classic whodunit territory, where everyone is a suspect. Foley keeps readers guessing not only about who the murderer is but also about who the victim might be—a unique twist that adds an extra layer of mystery. It’s like solving a puzzle, with each new reveal adding more intrigue.
Though not particularly creepy or terrifying, the book is unsettling in the best way, keeping you on edge with its slow unraveling of motives. While the premise feels similar to Foley’s The Guest List, this story still stands strong as an engaging winter read, perfect for fans of holiday murder mysteries.
With its mature themes, occasional language, and mild spice, I’d rate this an R, but it never feels gratuitous. If you enjoy character-driven mysteries filled with tension, complex relationships, and an immersive setting, this story is an excellent pick—especially during the winter months or around the holidays. Highly recommended!