The Midnight Knock

You hear a knock at your motel door.

It’s midnight and whoever’s on the other side already knows your name.

There’s something about an isolated motel in the middle of nowhere that makes your heart race and The Midnight Knock takes full advantage of it. Eight strangers caught in a time loop. A killer or something worse just outside in the darkness. 

This one made my brain hurt in the best possible way trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Author John Fram keeps the story moving with lots of creepy suspense, a complex and diverse cast of characters, and a truly chilling bad guy. Told through multiple points of view, narrators Angel Pean and Lee Orsorio do excellent work bringing all the characters to life. This was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me and I highly recommend it for all its creepy goodness. The man in the gaberdine suit is going to haunt my dreams for nights to come. Thank you @simon.audio for the #gifted audiobook. 

If you love stories that blur the line between mystery and horror, this one’s going to haunt you long after you turn the last page.

Would you open the door or hide until the knocking stops?

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About the Author

John Fram is the author of the critically acclaimed thrillers The Bright Lands,No Road Home, and The Midnight Knock. He has written for The Atlantic and The New York Times. A native of Texas, he lives in Waco and Austin. 

The Exes

 

Author: Leodora Darlington

Publisher: Dutton Books

Publication date: Feb. 3, 2026

Three dead exes and now a marriage in trouble. What could possibly go wrong? 

In Leodora Darlington’s debut novel The Exes, Natalie’s perfect marriage to her perfect husband James is on the verge of collapse after he discovers she’s killed three of her previous boyfriends. 

If you like your plots chaotic and your main characters messy then this is the psychological thriller for you. And who could blame Natalie after suffering childhood trauma and a string of terrible romances? Throw in her estranged mother, a sister she loves dearly but never sees, a brother in law with his own agenda, and a husband who’s hiding his own secrets. But Natalie’s smart and tough. She’s seeing a therapist and working on her issues. That also goes off the rails in spectacular style. Seriously, this book is bonkers. And I mean that in a good way. 

Darlington keeps the pace of the story moving which I appreciated. The story is told mostly through Natalie’s point of view, but there’s an occasional switch to her sister Claire’s and husband James’s pov. The timeline also shifts occasionally  from present to past. The story of filled with secrets, lies, and some wild twists. I was suspicious of everyone. This one definitely keeps you on your toes. 

This was a little too much of a hot mess for my taste, but I know many other readers will eat this one up. I recommend this one to domestic suspense and psychological thriller lovers. 3.5⭐️ rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for the complimentary arc. The Exes debuts Feb. 3. 

#theexes #debutnovel #2026debut #psychologicalthriller #domesticsuspense #domesticthriller #thrillerbooks #Februraybooks #bookishcommunity #bookreview #bookrec 

About the Author

Leodora Darlington is a writer from London with Ghanaian heritage. She received a distinction for her masters in creative writing from Brunel University of London, where she studied under authors like Benjamin Zephaniah and Will Self. A Bookseller Rising Star in 2021, Leodora is also an editor and has published a range of bestselling fiction. The Exes is her debut novel.

Unforgettable Thrillers from my 2017 Shelf

 

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱.

Back in 2017, I picked up five crime novels that have never left my head. Each one driven by standout characters, masterful pacing, and atmosphere you can still feel years later. If you’re looking for quality storytelling in the crime and thriller space, this stack delivers start to finish.

Happy Friday bookish friends! QOTD: Which thriller (or whatever your preferred genre) has stayed with you long after you closed the book?

#fiveforfriday #thrillerbooks #crimefiction #mysterybooks #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview  #bookrecs #bibliophile #bookcommunity #policeprocedural #bookish #crimethriller #booklovers #bookobsessed #backlistbooks 

The Cross

 

Author: Steve Cavanagh 

Narrator: Adam Sims

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Publication date: November 18, 2025

In The Cross, Steve Cavanagh serves chaos, courtroom carnage, and cross-examinations sharp enough to cut through alibis, egos, and maybe a few lives along the way. Eddie’s client is the widow of a man who died during a confrontation with a police officer. She wants justice for her deceased husband. It would be easy to settle the case for a quick buck, but Eddie knows that’s not the right thing to do. As Eddie works the case, he discovers a vast web of corruption and crime that could rock the NYPD to its core. The case and the safety of his client and her unborn baby all rest with Eddie’s cross examination. Will he risk his life to expose the truth? 

The novella is a fast paced court room drama. It goes at break neck speed. As with all of Eddie’s cases, the stakes are high. Eddie has to keep his client safe, win the case, try to stop a serial killer, and stay alive. Even though this novella is part of the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this on audio. As usual, Adam Sims is pitch perfect with his narration and really brings Eddie to life. Thanks Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted audiobook! 

If you want a thriller where the drama is bigger than the crime, you’re in the right courtroom. The Cross comes out November 18. Be sure to preorder it or add it to your tbr list now. The verdict is in: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of pure legal chaos. Court is adjourned.

In a courtroom, are you the unshakeable juror or the one gasping at every objection?

#TheCross #SteveCavanagh #EddieFlynn #CourtroomThriller #LegalThriller #PlotTwistBook #ThrillerBooks #CrimeFiction #Bookstagram #BookReels #ReadersOfInstagram #BookCommunity #CourtroomDrama #MysteryBooks #CrimeThriller #LegalFiction

About the Author

Steve Cavanagh is the bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including the Eddie Flynn series and Kill for Me, Kill for You. A former lawyer, he was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he still lives. Find out more at SteveCavanaghAuthor.com.

This Is a Safe Space

 

Author: Lucinda Berry

Narrator: full cast

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Publication date: October 21, 2025

Trust is a weapon in the wrong hands. In This Is a Safe Space, everyone’s in trouble. Lucinda Berry drags us into a psychological nightmare where trauma, control, and manipulation twist together until you don’t know who to believe or fear. 

Therapist Jenna, already fragile from past betrayals, breaks her promise and snoops on her husband’s phone. She discovers a disturbing text thread that links him, his cousin, and one of her own clients. As she digs deeper into session recordings and hidden alliances, Jenna realises the walls around her private life and her practice are crumbling. Can Jenna unravel her client’s frightening relationship in time?

This novella is full of secrets, and lies. I liked that this was a short and quick listen. It kept the story moving. I highly recommend the full cast audiobook. All the narrators did a fantastic job conveying the tension and suspense. If you love psychological fiction that crawls under your skin and lingers, this one won’t let go. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you read a thriller, do you trust the narrator or do you assume everyone is hiding something?

#thisisasafespace #lucindaberry #psychthriller #darkreads #bookstagramthriller #thrillerbooks #bookstagram  #readersofinstagram #bookreview #bookish #fictionreads #audiobook #bookrecommendation #psychologicalthriller #darkfiction

About the Author

USA TODAY bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages. If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@LucindaBerryAuthor) or sign up for her newsletter online.

Guess Again

 

Author: Charlie Donlea

Publisher: Kensington 

Publication date: July 29, 2025

Think you know what happened? Guess again. Because Charlie Donlea is here to twist your brain into knots.

Ten years after high-schooler Callie Jones vanished without a trace from her small lakeside town, former detective Ethan Hall, now an ER doctor, reluctantly returns to the case at the request of his dying partner.

What he uncovers is far more sinister than a cold case. A convicted serial killer held behind bars claims to know the truth, and Ethan must navigate a twisted psychological game where trust is the enemy and the past refuses to stay buried.

This book is filled with twists and turns. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Donlea threw another curveball that left my head spinning. The complex plot moves along quickly is filled with tension and suspense. I liked Ethan’s character and convicted serial killer Francis Bernard is sinister and creepy. Big thank you to @andrea.c.lowry for sending me the book. You’re the best! 

If you love twisty thrillers that keep you questioning every motive and every character, Guess Again is a must-read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Monday bookish pals! Do you usually solve the mystery before the ending, or are you the reader who loves being completely fooled?

#GuessAgain #CharlieDonlea #ThrillerBooks #MysteryBooks #CrimeFiction #BookReview #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #Bookish #ReadersOfInstagram #BookRec #ThrillerReads #MysteryThriller #PlotTwist #BookCommunity #BookishLove #BookAddict 

About the Author

Charlie Donlea is the critically acclaimed, USA Today, Indiebound and #1 internationally bestselling author of Summit Lake, The Girl Who Was Taken, Don't Believe It, Some Choose Darkness, The Suicide House, and Twenty Years Later. Published in nearly 30 countries and translated into more than a dozen languages, Donlea has been praised for his "soaring pace, teasing plot twists" (BookPage) and talent for writing an ending that "makes your jaw drop" (The New York Times Book Review). He was born and raised in Chicago, where he continues to live with his wife and two children. Visit him online at CharlieDonlea.com.

Five for Friday: Leading Ladies

 

These women don’t just survive the story. They own it. They’re sharp, fearless, and relentless. 

It’s #5forFriday + plus a bonus ‘cuz I’m extra. They all feature bad a$$ female main characters. These books are all 5 or 4 star reads for me and all are backlist books. I reached way into the back of the library vault for of couple of these books. They’re just so good that they need to be discovered by a new audience. Do any of them interest you? 

Happy Friday bookish friends! Any plans for the weekend? We just made plans to get together with some friends for dinner tonight. 

#ThrillerQueens #FiveForFriday #FemaleLeads #MysteryReads #BookRecommendations #BackListBooks #thrillerbooks