Suspenseful Clues and Thrilling Reviews discussion

In the interest of adding more discussion topics, I thought it would be fun to discuss those books that have really wowed us, past and present. Which books have been your favorite reads of the year? What are the books that you recommend at any given chance? Let's share the book love here!

For me, I am forever recommending Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes to thriller lovers! I feel like it's underrated and not very popular, and I wish more people would read it!

Aside from that, I also recommend The Night Circus and Dangerous Girls pretty frequently!

As for favorite books of the year, I'd have to say The Fourth Monkey, A Court of Wings and Ruin, Caraval, and Final Girls have been some of my favorites!

I recommend The Color Purple, Needful Things, lately I've been recommending The Female of the Species.

I often recommend Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One, which was one of the most moving books I have ever read. I also feel Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is underrated, though I can understand why its length would make it daunting.
But as for more recent novels, I recommend Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, anything by Fredrik Backman, and like Erin I thought The Female of the Species was great as well as Danielle's suggestion of Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes.

I finished The Surrogate by Louise Jensen last night and I have to say it was one of the best reads this year for me!! I was gripped by the very first page and the ending was explosive!! If you love psychological thrillers then this is for you!

I read Memoirs of a Geisha a couple of years ago and has stayed with me ever since. Another unforgettable, emotional and heartfelt book was The Diary of a Young Girl, which I urge you to read in case you haven't yet.

Given that many members of this group are avid fans of the psychological thriller/mystery/suspense/police procedural genres, I am going to list some of my favourites: Sharp Objects, Reconstructing Amelia, We Were Liars, Behind Closed Doors, I Let You Go, Into the Water, Distress Signals, Playing with Fire, the Rizzoli & Isles series, the Hercule Poirot series.

Surprisingly there are so many. One book that stood out was Dark Matter,it was intensifying.

Michael wrote: "Surprisingly there are so many. One book that stood out was Dark Matter,it was intensifying."

My husband just finished this in record time. It's on my TBR (though fairly Blake is going to have to really win me over because I'm not into alternate reality or heavy time shifts).

Belinda wrote: "Michael wrote: "Surprisingly there are so many. One book that stood out was Dark Matter,it was intensifying."

My husband just finished this in record time. It's on my TBR (though f..."
Trust me it is one of the best books I ever read. I was hooked from the first page, it is chilling on every page.

Recently finished a favorite for this year!

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Ooh! I have that one, Mary. You just moved it up my TBR.

The Fourth Monkey by JD Barker really wowed me this year.

Really haven't come across another that had such an impact. Other books had an impact, but in a different way.

I recommend the Twilight Saga...(many people say they hated it but I truly enjoyed it). I also recommend any shadowhunter related Cass Clare books such as TMI. regarding thrillers, the Confessions series is really good.

I really enjoyed The Ninth Step by Grant Jenkins earlier this year - mild thriller, but twisted story all the same! Also Look Behind You by Sibel Hodge & The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson were great! A little dark, especially Butterfly Garden but both kept me on the edge of my seat!

Danielle (The Blonde Likes Books) wrote: "For me, I am forever recommending Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes to thriller lovers! I feel like it's underrated and not very popular, and I wish more people would read it!

Aside fro..."

You do ALWAYS recommend Into the Darkest Corner. It is on my shelf, I have to make some room for it!!

Darchelle wrote: "I really enjoyed The Ninth Step by Grant Jenkins earlier this year - mild thriller, but twisted story all the same! Also Look Behind You by Sibel Hodge & The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson were..."

I loved The Butterfly Garden too! I read it in an afternoon and was completely addicted. I was not happy about the ending though! What did you think?

Noor wrote: "I recommend the Twilight Saga...(many people say they hated it but I truly enjoyed it). I also recommend any shadowhunter related Cass Clare books such as TMI. regarding thrillers, the Confessions ..."

I remember the first time I read Twilight. I wanted to read it so I could criticize it and ended up ignoring all my exam prep in university to read the series lol

Ellie wrote: "I finished The Surrogate by Louise Jensen last night and I have to say it was one of the best reads this year for me!! I was gripped by the very first page and the ending was explosive!! If you lov..."

I've been hearing so many things about that book! I am going to have to add it to my TBR pile.

Belinda wrote: "Michael wrote: "Surprisingly there are so many. One book that stood out was Dark Matter,it was intensifying."

My husband just finished this in record time. It's on my TBR (though f..."

Dark Matter is amazing!! I loved that one and I don't usually enjoy Sci-Fi but he had such a great balance going.

I'm always recommending anything by Patrick Redmond. Little known, but one of the best writers I've ever read :) In particular The Wishing Game, his first.

Have heard great things about The Fourth Monkey too... gotta read that one!!

These are fantastic suggestions and I've only read a handful of them! Personally (and ironically) Night Film is one that I recommend to everyone. I am also a hardcore pusher of anything by Karin Slaughter and Harlan Coben.

I got The Nightingale through the Book of the Month Club book subscription, an other book I got from them that I love is All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

I have two unexpected favourites this year -

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, which I completely fell in love with.

My other favourite this year is LaRose by Louise Erdrich. A wonderful story.

My usual genre is crime suspense thriller and my all time favourites are Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith and pretty much anything by Karin Slaughter, my personal favourite of hers being, Criminal.

Darchelle wrote: "I really enjoyed The Ninth Step by Grant Jenkins earlier this year - mild thriller, but twisted story all the same! Also Look Behind You by Sibel Hodge & The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson were..."

I am reading The Butterfly Garden for a quarterly challenge and am so excited to get to it. I have heard nothing but good things!

Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "Darchelle wrote: "I really enjoyed The Ninth Step by Grant Jenkins earlier this year - mild thriller, but twisted story all the same! Also Look Behind You by Sibel Hodge & The Butterfly Garden by D..."

It's such a great book!

I have thought about LaRose. I will put it on my to be read list now.

And So It Began by Owen Mullen my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thelma said, ' I have thought about LaRose...'

I loved it. There is one scene that will stay with me forever...

here's a link to my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG (most amazing book I have read!); and

Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens (haven't finished by review yet but Wowza)

My favs in 2017 were:
- The Good Daughter and the Kept Woman - Karin Slaughter
- The Girl Before - Rena Olsen
- Red Hunter - Lisa Unger
- The Secrets She Keeps - Michael Robotham
- All the Time in The World - Caroline Angell
- The Trapped Girl - Robert Dugoni
- The Darkest Corner - Elizabeth Haynes

Loved them all!!

Ally wrote: "My favs in 2017 were:
- The Good Daughter and the Kept Woman - Karin Slaughter
- The Girl Before - Rena Olsen
- Red Hunter - Lisa Unger
- The Secrets She Keeps - Michael Robotham
- All the Time i..."

Awesome!!

Eldon said, 'Awesome!

Agreed! That's a great list, Ally.

I've never read any Dugoni - will add The Trapped Girl to my list!

My faves in 2017 were:
-THE DRY, Jane Harper
-THE HOT ONE, Carolyn Murnick
-BEST DAY EVER, Caira Rouda
-THE PERFECT STRANGER, Megan Miranda

I love Megan Miranda's mysteries. ALL THE MISSING GIRLS is among my favorites (if not my absolute favorite) of the past couple years. I'll probably re-read it at some point.

New guy here, just getting the lay of the land. I'm glad people are doing lists because it's hard to pick just one. I have to second MIDNIGHT AT THE BRIGHT IDEAS BOOKSTORE. Harlan Coben was also mentioned. Read THE WOODS recently and that was wonderful. I have LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE and DARK MATTER on hold at the library so it's good to know those are liked. The last really good book I read was THE GOOD GIRL by Mary Kubica.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman is going to forever be a favorite of mine. My review https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: " The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman is going to forever be a favorite of mine. My review https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2..."

I am just about to start this one! I am glad it is good!!

TR wrote: "New guy here, just getting the lay of the land. I'm glad people are doing lists because it's hard to pick just one. I have to second MIDNIGHT AT THE BRIGHT IDEAS BOOKSTORE. Harlan Coben was also me..."

I love Mary Kubica! All her stuff is fantastic!!

Definitely Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Anything by Chevy Stevens. Especially Those Girls.

I agree about Chevy Stevens. Don't think I've read anything by her I didn't like. I don't think I've read that one though.

Sorry I'm basic but I really loved Final Girls, Lie to Me, and The Breakdown. I'm just soo original :P

Dennis, I loved Final Girls too!

I guess we're weirdos.

I don’t know if anyone has read these books but I highly recommend these: Behind Closed Doors by B.A Paris, The kind worth killing by Peter Swanson and Say Nothing by Brad Parks.

Hi! I'm new to the group as well... my favorites for 2017 so far:
Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown
Final Girls by Riley Sager
The Dry by Jane Harper
Friend Request by Laura Marshall

I'm reading "Meddling Kids" now; not far enough to decide if I like it.

And I just received the Advance Copy of The Wife Between Us by Sarah Pekkanen, which looks great! So that's next.

Candice wrote: "I don’t know if anyone has read these books but I highly recommend these: Behind Closed Doors by B.A Paris, The kind worth killing by Peter Swanson and Say Nothing by Brad Parks."

Love, love, loved The Kind Worth Killing! Definitely one I recommend often!

Ellie wrote: "I finished The Surrogate by Louise Jensen last night and I have to say it was one of the best reads this year for me!! I was gripped by the very first page and the ending was explosive!! If you lov..."

After reading the synopsis of this book I'm so eager to read this ASAP. Thanks for the recommendation.

I started the Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger this year as a group read and am loving the stories. I also love the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly.

I often recommend A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I love this book so much.

Kiersten wrote: "Hi! I'm new to the group as well... my favorites for 2017 so far:
Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown
Final Girls by Riley Sager
The Dry by Jane Harper
Friend Request by Laura Marshall

I'm reading..."

I read THE WIFE BETWEEN US. I'll be curious to hear what you think. I was initially excited about it, but it really bummed me out after part one.

Erin wrote: "Dennis, I loved Final Girls too!

I guess we're weirdos."

I have FINAL GIRLS and am moving it up my list because it keeps coming up here.

@ Kiersten I really did not like Meddling Kids. It was an interesting concept but the writing style and arc just didn’t work for me. But I also wasn’t a big fan of the TV cartoon either. Hope you enjoyed it more than I did!