Suspense Archives - The Litertarian

Book Review:: All You Took From Me | Lisa Kenway

You’ve got to love an unreliable narrator, and who could be more unreliable than an amnesia patient?

All You Took From Me by Lisa Kenway Book Cover

My favorite thing about All You Took From Me, was how meticulously it unfolded. We are in the story with Clare, who has awoken from a coma with no memory of what happened to get her there.

We go through it all along with her, within her psychology. Something catastrophic has happened in her life, and while she scrambles to resume what little normalcy she may, the lack of memories surrounding the accident haunt her. Things she thought she knew may not have been so true after all, and she is willing to risk more and more in order to find out the truth—no matter what.

This book gripped me from the very first pages and I was locked in through the entire thing. Twists, turns, suspicions, and rash actions…all of it. And what a ride it was! If you’re a fan of books like Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney and Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister, you’re going to love this one!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: All you Took From Me
Author:: Lisa Kenway
Genre:: Psychological Thriller
Publisher:: Transit Lounge
Length:: 330 pages
Published:: August 1st, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Where He Left Me | Nicole Baart
Something in the Water | Catherine Steadman
Listen for the Lie | Amy Tintera

Book Review:: Won’t Back Down | Harper Jackson

Some books you read for the escape of it all. Something you can sink into, be transported, and find a satisfying plot with just enough tension (sexual, and otherwise), to keep you captivated and turning pages because you care about what happens next. If that’s you, I have to say, Won’t Back Down by Harper Jackson might be one of the best options out there. It’s romantic without being cheesy, suspenseful without being scary, and wholesome enough to keep it endearing. And man…it’s just a good daggum story!

Won't Back Down by Harper Jackson Book Cover

After losing her grandparents in quick succession, the only family she’s able to rely on anymore besides her brother, currently deployed in the Navy, Willa’s steady, reliable world is changing. Maybe once upon a time that wouldn’t have been a big deal, but now, she has enough psychological damage to deal with.

When she was a teenager, she drowned. Actually, fully drowned. But she was saved by her brother’s best friend, Sawyer. She has a lot of lost memories from around that time, and intense trauma from the years afterwards. She avoids thinking about any of that stuff at all. But now Sawyer is back on island, come home from his own stint in the Navy, and he’s there to help her cope, in any way he can. Emotionally, physically…legally.

Gosh darn it, this book got me. It is jam packed with all the good stuff, as I mentioned before. The sexual tension is present and done so well. The mystery elements are executed to perfection. There are lots of side characters I’m sure have and will pop up in other books in the same series (which I need to get my hands on immediately). It’s everything you want in this kind of book, which I like to call ‘candy’. The kind that just hits the spot. Refreshing, in many ways. Delicious!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Won’t Back Down (Wayward Sons #2)
Author:: Harper Jackson (Kait Nolan)
Genre:: Romantic Suspense
Publisher:: Take the Leap Publishing
Length:: 331 pages
Published:: September 6th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

All the Missing Pieces | Catherine Cowles
Obsession Falls | Claire Kingsley
These Summer Storms | Sarah MacLean
Leave Before I Love You | Max Monroe

Book Review:: The Storm | Rachel Hawkins

You can rely on Rachel Hawkins to deliver a compelling story replete with tension you can feel in your chest. This one is about murder in a tiny coastal town.

In 1984 there was a famous murder in St. Menard’s Bay. Well, probably. When a body turns up after a hurricane, probably someone murdered him and let the storm take care of the evidence. But no one can prove it. The accusation, though, follows around the girl everyone suspects. We get flashes of the timeline of events leading up to that supposed crime of the past, while the contemporary story takes place on top of it: a crime podcaster coming around to poke his nose into the case.

You can feel the tension in this book like you are there, waiting in the dense, still humidity, waiting on the hurricane to hit. The dual timeline structure isn’t new for Hawkins (The Villa felt fairly similar for structure), but boy, it’s effective. For me there was enough intrigue to pull me through both timelines without losing momentum, and the finale was surprising and also completely inevitable, the way the best ones always are.

I will read anything Rachel Hawkins publishes. She’s a wonder, and this story was no exception. Do with that what you will!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title::The Storm
Author::Rachel Hawkins
Genre::Mystery Suspense Thriller
Publisher::St. Martin’s Press
Length:: 258 pages
Published::January 6th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: Handle With Care | Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

This book is like, if locked-room mystery was a thriller, and the psychology of everyone in the room is the story. In other words: excellent.

Handle With Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen Book Cover

This is my second title by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, and I already knew after Every Moment Since that I’d read everything she put out. This one is a very different vibe, but still under the same sort of suspense umbrella. (Also, LOOK at that cover! *drools*)

This is a story about an impromptu hostage situation at the united states postal service. It’s told by an omniscient, present-tense narrator that give the entire thing a very unique vibe, and it is organized into the parts of a letter.

If you read the ‘header’ you won’t be able to stop. It’s too good. It’s stunningly good. I’d even say an intro like that is a masterwork. It got me, hook, line, and sinker.

In a thriller, it’s especially important to avoid any spoilers. Discovering the story is the joy of it. So I won’t. Maybe I’ll just stop here, actually. The shortest review ever written! But if you do read it, and I really think you should, just don’t forget…

This is a story of hope.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Handle With Care
Author:: Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
Genre:: Suspense Thriller
Publisher:: Thomas Nelson
Length:: 288 pages
Published::April 14th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Every Moment Since | Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
The Unraveling of Julia | Lisa Scottoline
The Night We Lost Him | Laura Dave

Book Review:: My Husband’s Wife | Alice Feeney

This is my second Alice Feeney novel, and it is just as twisty and confusing and unreliable as the last one! If you’re a fan of high stakes puzzles and layers of mystery and suspense, you’re going to love her new release, My Husband’s Wife.

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney Book Cover

Eden Fox comes home from a run to find a stranger in her house. Her key doesn’t work, and there’s a lookalike there, dressed in her clothes, kissing her husband. It’s impossible, but it’s happening. Even the police don’t believe her, and everything she might have had for proof was left inside the house before her run.

This is the start of one of the most complex webs of confusion, mystery, and deception I’ve ever read. There is twist after twist and no shortage of suspicions, and just when you think you know what happened, everything turns on its head all over again.

This is the kind of book the term ‘page-turner’ was invented for. Though at times it was so shrouded in so many layers that it took awhile for the clarity to sink in, it is very good at what it does, which is satisfy your craving for a compelling story.

I was able to experience the audiobook version of this novel. It is produced to a slightly higher level than a typical book, and overall I really enjoyed all those additions. However, as someone who listens at a faster speed than 1x, the running sound effect was really frantic. For that reason I would recommend reading it on 1x speed.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: My Huband’s Wife
Author:: Alice Feeney
Genre:: Mystery Thriller
Publisher:: Flatiron Books
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 58m
Audiobook Narrator:: Bel Powley, Henry Rowley, and Richard Armitage
Published:: January 20th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Where He Left Me | Nicole Baart
Remain | Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan
Listen for the Lie | Amy Tintera

Book Review:: Where He Left Me | Nicole Baart

Sadie Sheridan almost gave up on finding the one. But then, in her 40s, she fell in love with another professor at her university. Felix. He’s smart, and quirky, and sweeps her off her feet. Once they’re married, he sweeps her off to the remote mountain cabin he grew up in. Then, he disappears.

Where He Left Me by Nicole Baart Book Cover

Sadie is alone, and terrified. Winter is coming, and her husband should be home from his conference by now. It’s her first time in a place like this, and she doesn’t know the first thing about life on the mountain.

Then one of the trail cam’s picks something up. A shadowy figure in the woods, and it’s headed for her property.

Where He Left Me is masterful suspense novel. Every sentence is dripping with mystery and tension and I had no idea where the story was going. I wouldn’t have been surprised at anything with how much tension was set up in this book. What ended up happening though, was a very endearing story of strength, determination, and mama bear energy.

There were a few things that bothered me, ultimately, which is why I’ve rated it four stars instead of five. I don’t want to spoil anything though, so I will keep them to myself. Was it still worth reading though? Absolutely. Especially in these new dark days of fall/early winter, this is the perfect type of book to curl up with and get lost in the suspense!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Where He Left Me
Author:: Nicole Baart
Genre:: Suspense Thriller
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 36m
Audiobook Narrator:: Amanda Dolan
Published:: November 4th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: Cover Story | Mhairi McFarlane

Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane is more than a romance, it’s an investigation. Bel is a seasoned investigator who got her feet wet with her podcast before joining a newspaper. Connor recently dropped his old career and retrained as a reporter to find greater meaning in his life (it consequently left the rest of his life in shambles).

Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane Book Cover

Bel catches wind of a big story and decides to go undercover to collect evidence when she runs directly into Connor, who doesn’t know about the ruse. What else can they do to explain their awkward meeting but pretend to be lovers?

I honestly didn’t connect well with this story. It felt too…contrived? Like the base plot just wasn’t my cup of tea. However, I did like the characterization, especially of Connor. It wasn’t even particularly romantic, to be honest. I’m not sure who the intended audience is for this book, but I don’t think it was me.

I’ve read a few Mhairi McFarlane novels, and more of them have fallen flat for me than connected. I think it may be time for me to accept the truth that her books just aren’t for me.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Cover Story
Author:: Mhairi McFarlane
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Avon
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 23m
Audiobook Narrator:: Charlotte Mills
Published:: October 7th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

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The Battle of the Bookshops | Poppy Alexander
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Book Review:: Greenwich | Kate Broad

Greenwich is a bit of an odd book that isn’t easy to slot into conventional genre conventions. As a millennial, it’s hard for me to call this historical fiction, as it takes place in 1999, but take that as you will. There is a heavy dose of suspense, as we know the summer ends in tragedy from the beginning with no idea of what it might be. But more than anything, this is a coming-of-age story.

It’s a difficult time for Rachel, and for the summer her parents ship her off to live with her aunt, uncle, and 3-year-old cousin in Greenwich. She’s not a babysitter, but she’s also not not a babysitter (even though they technically have one of those, too). Their posh lifestyle is a bit of a shock to Rachel’s system, and she’s left feeling like she doesn’t exactly fit anywhere, an echo of her problems back home. She’s also exposed to new things there that pique her curiosity.

I felt a little unsettled reading this book. The focus was unsure, the pacing was quite slow and exploratory, and it didn’t end when I expected it to. It stretched on quite a bit longer than I’d have guessed, in fact. I’m not sure how Kate Broad evoked that same feeling that lived inside Rachel that summer as a reader in this story, but actually it’s quite brilliant in retrospect.

A lot of this story is very dark. It’s not something to read to feel good or when you need a pick-me-up. There are drugs, pornography, allusions to illegal practices…it’s also a reminder that young folk (it feels strange calling an 18 year old a kid) notice everything, and are constantly forming their opinions about things they’re exposed to.

The feeling of suspense was quite high as I read. Knowing that something big was coming, something that would change everything, was always in the back of my mind, and not knowing what it might be had my mind on over-drive through everything.

My instincts tell me to rate this at three stars because that suspenseful feeling wasn’t very comfy and that’s not exactly my taste, but I recognize the brilliance of this novel, and kudos where kudos are due.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Greenwich
Author:: Kate Broad
Genre:: Historical(ish) Suspense
Publisher:: St. Martin’s Press
Length:: 304 pages
Published:: July 22nd, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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The Greatest Possible Good | Ben Brooks
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Book Review:: The Goldens | Lauren Wilson

Lauren Wilson’s new book The Goldens will have you sucked into the orbit of a young influencer and experience first-hand the dogma that can lead impressionable young people down a path they may not even realize they’re being led down. It’s an excellent commentary on the tides of social media and social manipulation packed into a suspenseful novel that will have you raising, then clenching your eyebrows.

Clara is a golden girl. She seems to have everything a young woman might ever hope for: wealth, beauty, a social media following, all the new ‘it’ items, and even setting trends herself. She’s also far more approachable than one might think. A fortuitous coincidence of matching initials leads Chloe to meet her, and they hit it off. Chloe is a bit infatuated with the whole aura Clara has going on, and she becomes her right hand, indispensable, and she revels in the feeling of being loved and needed by someone so cool. But as more of Clara’s layers are revealed, and her actions start taking things too far, Chloe wonders if everything is as it seems, or if she needs to start removing herself from what others are beginning to call a cult.

While this book was fascinating, it wasn’t quite as compelling as I’d have liked. It approached a real suspense novel a few times, and I think it would have been amazing if that had been leaned into a little bit more. The description calls it a thriller, but I wouldn’t agree at all, and I think that’s where my inclination to rate to three stars comes from. The messages it explores are incredibly important, especially for young ladies who are always trying to fit in and find their place among their contemporaries.

One of the strengths I think is that the characters are portrayed very well to support the story. Everyone has the right kind of background and history to fuel the circumstances they find themselves in now, and the ending was absolutely haunting. I’m looking forward to reading more from this debut author!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Goldens
Author:: Lauren Wilson
Genre:: Contemporary Suspense
Publisher:: Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 25m
Audiobook Narrator:: Cassandra Harwood
Published:: July 15th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Splendid Little Schemes | Robin Strong
These Summer Storms | Sarah MacLean
Hate Follow | Erin Quinn-Kong

Book Review:: The Unraveling of Julia | Lisa Scottoline

Julia, still grieving the loss of her older adoptive parents, finds out she is the recipient of an old Italian villa from a woman she’s never heard of. At first she is convinced it is a misunderstanding, but once she arrives in Italy it becomes clear that there’s been no mistake, and that perhaps Emilia Rossi knew something Julia didn’t.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline Book Cover

There are many mysteries to uncover in the old Italian villa, about the proprietress and the family that once lived there. Julia begins almost immediately having vivid visions once she arrives that has her convinced there is a tether somewhere there of Julia’s biological family.

Like any good psychological thriller, the lines of reality get a little bit blurry, and almost everything we think we know is constantly in doubt. Who is this woman who left Julia this decrepit property? Did she really have ties to an ancient Italian duchess with a scandalous history? Are either or both of them of any relation to Julia? And why is she feeling so much pressure to sell and leave the past to be buried with the old crone who left it to her?

This book explores something I don’t often encounter in books: a spiritual intuition. Astrology, horoscopes, intuition, and even communicating beyond the veil as a medium. I tend to believe there is a spiritual realm of some sort of which we normally do not have access to. I love the idea that sometimes, under the right circumstances, or with the right people, we can connect over that bridge. If you are fully anti-‘woo-woo’, you will probably not enjoy this book.

While I did really enjoy this story, it didn’t really grab me fully under its spell. Theoretically I really enjoy the idea of this book, but I just wasn’t able to fully sink in the way I like. It might have been a timing issue, or something about trying to juggle so many theories without knowing up from down for so much of the novel. Was it a good book? Absolutely. Will I continue to read every Lisa Scottoline book I can get my hands on? Also yes. If you’re a fan of the ol’ psychological thriller, I think you’ll find a lot to enjoy about The Unraveling of Julia.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Unraveling of Julia
Author:: Lisa Scottoline
Genre:: Psychological Thriller
Publisher:: Grand Central Publishing
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 12h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: July 15th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars