Trick or Treat

by N.L. Hinkens

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 12, 2026

About the author

NYT and USA Today bestselling author N. L. Hinkens writes twisty psychological suspense thrillers with unexpected endings. She’s a travel junkie, coffee hound, and idea wrangler, in no particular order. She grew up in Ireland—land of legends and storytelling—and now resides in the US. Her work has won the Grand Prize Next Generation Indie Book Award for fiction, as well as numerous other awards. Join her VIP Reader Club for hot new releases, stellar giveaways, exclusive content, behind the scenes and more. https://normahinkens.com/

Pseudonym for author Norma Hinkens

Reviews

[John Morris]

3.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this story, it was a good murder/mystery with more twists and turns than a corkscrew.

A wealthy wife, mother and CEO of her own software company, returns to her home town to launch a speculative business venture. However, things soon take a downward turn as contracts are cancelled unexpectedly and her personal life begins to unravel alarmingly.

The lady, who appears to have everything, has a very dark past and people from that time are now out for revenge.

It was an easy read but you had to suspend belief at some of the situations she found herself in. As the saying goes, "when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging". Not a literary masterpiece but enjoyable nevertheless.

[Eunice Anne]

"𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱-𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗻... 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲-𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗻."😅-Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

WARNING: This review is 100% SPOILER-FREE... BUT READ AT YOUR OWN RISK if you don't want your mind pre-blown before reading the book!😂


I have mixed feelings about this one, but I’m sharing my perspective because I still think it’s a book that thriller lovers should check out and decide on for themselves!

1.What Worked: Purely Addictive
-First off, the tagline on the cover promises a "totally addictive" read, and I have to completely agree with that part. The pacing is fast, and the thrill of trying to figure out "whodunnit" keeps you turning the pages. I found myself hooked on the mystery, constantly wondering where the story was heading. If you’re looking for a quick, engaging read that grips your attention, this book definitely delivers on that front.

2.What Tested My Patience: The Main Character
-That said,oh boy, Lauren tested my patience! I lost count of how many times I got frustrated with her decision-making. Girl! Why keep making choices that only make things harder for yourself when help is right in front of you? Her refusal to communicate and her constant secrecy were so infuriating that I literally had to shake my Kindle just to vent my frustration. She’s definitely a main character who will test your nerves!

3.The "Shocking Twist" Dilemma
Now, for the "shocking twist" promised on the cover,this is where the book fell a bit flat for me. As you navigate through the story, everything flows smoothly, and the suspense naturally builds up. My anticipation really heightened heading into the final chapters because I was expecting a massive, mind-blowing turn of events.Unfortunately, the reveal didn't quite hit the mark for me. Rather than feeling like a sharp, shocking turn in the plot, it felt a little rushed and forced,it felt more like a minor detour like it was wrapped up quickly just to land on an ending. It just didn't deliver that jaw-dropping moment I was hoping for.

Is it a bad book? No, not at all! It really is an addictive, suspenseful ride that keeps your anticipation high until the very end. Even though the main character drove me a little crazy and the twist didn't hit the mark for me personally, it’s still a fun, fast-paced thriller. Everyone experiences plot twists differently, so if you're a fan of psychological thrillers, give it a read and see what you think!

[Fatimah Gunn]

Great Story

This was a great story from beginning to end. Couldn’t tell who was the culprit and the reveal was a shocker!!! Please read this book…you won’t regret it.

[Roger]

Trick or Treat: A totally addictive psychological thriller with a shocking twist, my twenty-first (263-page) read from author N.L. Hinkens, one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed the outstanding psychological thriller with its intricately woven twists and turns! When I seen this books release I immediately purchased a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Jen]

A title like Trick or Treat promises a specific kind of seasonal atmosphere, but the actual chills here are diluted by a circular narrative. The medium pacing and short chapters attempt to give the story a quick rhythm, yet I felt like the plot was frequently stuck in a loop. Lauren’s internal monologue drives much of this repetition as she rehashes the exact same thoughts. Worse, instead of briefly summarizing conversations, the text spells out the full retellings of past events. Reading Lauren retell a single sequence detailed three different times to different people caused my attention to drift.
When the reveals finally arrive, they land with mixed results. One half of the twist is easy to spot well in advance, while the other half swings so far out of left field that it feels disconnected from the groundwork laid in earlier chapters. The story doesn't lean into the holiday setting as heavily as the name suggests, though it still provides enough subtle atmosphere to work as an October read. If you like short chapters, and Halloween vibes, then you may enjoy this book.

Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/tr...

[Jean Coffman]

Didn't care for main character

This was my first time reading one of her books, and I have to say the main character, Lauren, truly ruined it for me. It was so hard for me to continue reading it. I did finish it because it did have a few thriller twists, and I needed to get to the ending. But, wow, Lauren was a bully, and I would definitely call her a narcissist. She just took away the enjoyable reading experience and distracted from the other characters.

All in all, the ending is pretty decent enough, but it is almost predictable. I will try and read another one of her books, though. It's just too bad that the main character in this book ruined it for me.

[Missy]

A fun read!

I enjoyed this book for several reasons, first it had suspense and some twists, but mainly I appreciated reading a psychological thriller that was not full of foul language. The author has a great vocabulary that she used instead of taking the easy route and filling the dialog with inappropriate words. I think that some of the characters could have been a bit more developed, but overall this was an enjoyable read and I will try another book by N.L Hinkens!

[Anne Mercer]

This is a 3.75 star rating for me. This book was chosen by my book club for our October read so I am getting it in early. This is my first read by this author. I enjoyed this book overall but nothing earth shattering. It was a solid read and entertaining. It had enough twists, surprises and suspense to keep me reading but the ending was a bit of a let down. Not bad. Just meh. I will try another book by this author. There is potential here.

[Barbara Williams]

Only a trick

There was certainly no treat for anyone in this book. The tricks were compounded by the need for revenge and greed. Plus a real twist that this reader never saw coming.

[Dakota Gryffin]

The FMC was so stupid and bitchy and mean and judgmental and suspected literally everyone around her ahhh

[B M]

There are enough twists and turns to keep you reading.

It's a really good easy read and keeps you interested from start to finish. I'll be reading more from this author.

[todd]

I'm sorry, but I found t his very boring.

[Jackie]

Absolutely fantastic once again. This author only writes the best mysteries. There’s no stopping until you find out the truth. Can’t wait for the next book to come out.

[Joy Feazell]

A very quick read, lots of twists. I really enjoyed this one and downloaded another by the same author.

[sue bright]

Trick or Treat

Pretty good book. At first she got on my last nerve. Lots of People did it. I guess who I thought was Involved. I was right.

[Dixie Lindsey]

This book pulled me in from the start. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there was a plot twist. Definitely a must read.

[Karen]

TRICK

If one person was not so irritating and make women look bad, it would be a 5! A sequel is not needed for this storyline as I cannot imagine it being worthwhile to read.

[Josey Fansher]

Good

Excellent fall read. Enjoyed the twist. Thought I had it figured out but it took a turn. First novel by Hinkens and will read another.

[Kristin Kaye]

3.5 🌟

[Lala Ivette]

It was ok. It kept
Me reading. Even though some
Parts were a little cringe and repetitive.

[Kathy Smith]

great read

Such a good book I really enjoyed this one!!!! I have read several they all have been a good read!!!

[Christy]

The FMC was honestly so self-centered and annoying, I did not like her. But that’s what made me love the book, it was easy to follow as well.