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what I’ve been reading: thriller/mystery edition

Mar 4, 2021

It’s #InternationalBookDay AND #NationalReadingMonth, so what better way to celebrate than sharing all my recent reads!


I didn’t do this intentionally, but somehow I got on a thriller/mystery kick, and you know what, I don’t hate it! So, I figured I would share the last five books I’ve read in the last month or so, and I’ll also include two other mysteries I’ve read in the last year that I really enjoyed– then you’ll have plentyyy of options if you’re looking for a good read. I also will preface by saying that I really enjoyed all of these books!

ALSO for full disclosure– I’m going to be linking all of my books via Bookshop.org from now on. Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores, which I obviously love! Bookshop also wants to give back to everyone who advocates for books, authors, and independent bookstores, which they are doing through their amazing affiliate program. The program gives me a commission and then gives a matching commission to independent bookstores! Their hope is to help strengthen the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keep local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities, so it was a no-brainer for me to use Bookshop for any of my blog posts about books from here on out!

Now… book time.


THRILLER/MYSTERY
READING LIST

Book ONE:

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 

This is a great place to start if you’re just hopping into the genre. The Silent Patient is a #1 New York Times Bestseller about a woman who goes completely silent after she’s convicted of her husband’s gruesome murder and the therapist who is determined to get her to speak again. Can she, though? Will she? I heard so many great reviews about this one that I knew I had to check it out. It really drew me in and I honestly didn’t see the ending coming, which made it all the better!


Book TWO:

Conviction by Denise Mina

Honestly, I was drawn to this book one day while browsing the books at Target because of its bright cover. It’s also a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, which, if you read my last book blog post, you know I’m usually a big fan of her picks! It’s the story of how Anna’s day started like any other but quickly blew up from every side. With nothing but a washed-up musician and a true-crime podcast, she sets out to figure out the truth. I was not expecting this book to be what it was, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and its unique plot!


Book THREE:

Verity by Colleen Hoover

I’m sure you’ve seen this one trending on Insta or Twitter because I think every blogger, myself included, was talking about it at the beginning of the year. I can definitely see why though– it was dark, intriguing, and I could not put it down. Best-selling author Colleen Hoover shares the tale of a writer on the brink of destitution who accepts the seemly ideal new gig, but quickly discovers a flood of secrets that are so much more than she bargained for. Will she ever learn the real truth?


Book FOUR:

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

This psychological thriller was so unexpected– I honestly didn’t see the ending coming. It’s the perfect “is this actually happening?” storyline. The book’s protagonist is an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnessed a crime in a neighboring house– did she actually see it? Is it all in her head? I think this one will stump you, too. It’s a #1 New York Times Bestseller and soon-to-be movie starring Amy Adams.


Book FIVE:

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Another New York Times bestseller, this novel did a great job weaving between narratives and keeping the suspense present. Laurel’s daughter Ellie went missing, they finally get closure, but when Laurel meets her new boyfriend’s daughter who looks just like her daughter once had, everything comes flooding back and Laurel is haunted once more. Did she really run away? Or did something else happen? Another gripping mystery, highly recommended!


BONUS BOOKS:

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

This was one of my favorite reads this year. A celebrity wedding that ends in murder, but could someone from the guest list be guilty? So many secrets, so many twists and turns! This one was a tad dark, but kept me hooked, and left me wanting just a bit more by the end. It’s no surprise this one’s a New York Times Bestseller & Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I recommended this book in my summer reading blog post, but since it is in the mystery/thriller genre, I wanted to give it another honorable mention. It’s another RWBC choice that several friends also recommended. I just briefly read what the book was about when I bought it, so I was very pleasantly surprised at the mixture of a surprisingly poignant yet beautiful coming-of-age story and a murder mystery. This bestseller is another high recommendation.


Let me know what your thoughts are if you’ve read any of my recent picks or if one, in particular, caught your eye! I hope you enjoy the recommendations!

happy reading! Xx

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