popcorn thriller

Review: Ten Years Gone by Wendy Walker

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Ten Years GoneTen Years Gone by Wendy Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ten Years Gone is the story of Clare and Griffin.

When they were teens they fell madly in love with one another. It’s the classic boy meets girl story, where the boy is from the wrong side of the tracks.

They risk a lot to be with one another, but the relationship doesn’t last as long as they would’ve hoped. Unfortunately, it ends abruptly with Griffin being incarcerated for murder.

After he’s locked up, Griffin refuses to remain in contact with Clare. It’s not that he doesn’t still care for her, he just doesn’t want her wasting her life on him. She’s hurt, but she’s also young and resilient. She does move on, but you never forget your first love. We all know that.

Ten years later, Griffin is finally being released. He doesn’t know what to expect from life on the outside and he could never have expected what happens to him. Newly released, he’s abducted, and he barely escapes with his life.

He finds himself on the run, hiding from who, he doesn’t know, but he needs to figure out the truth about the past if he has any chance of surviving for the future.

Clare is startled when she hears the news of Griffin’s release. She days away from her own wedding, but she’s never forgotten Griffin. When she starts getting cryptic text messages bringing up the past, she decides it’s time to figure out the truth of that night.

Alternating between the past and present, Walker did an amazing job weaving together this tense and exciting Thriller. I had so much fun with it. It’s definitely a Popcorn Thriller, juicy and enticing, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the Reader engaged.

There were so many times that I thought I knew the answer to it all, and while I was picking up on little things, it was much more complex than I originally anticipated. Walker was bringing the layers and I was sat.

I liked the sort of star crossed lovers aspect that Walker created here as well. Boy from the wrong side of the tracks, rich good girl dating outside her parents’ comfort zone, and the night that changed it all.

It was almost a bit too romantic for me, in regards to the way the characters thought about one another, but I think a lot of Readers will eat that aspect up.

Walker is such a great writer. There’s a fantastic flow and pace in all of her books, and this one is no exception. They’re just highly readable and so gripping. Once I started this, it was all I could think about. I just wanted to keep going.

It wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t need it to be. It was fun. It was entertaining and I had a blast learning the truth at the heart of Clare and Griffin’s story.

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced and drama-filled Popcorn Thriller. Bonus points if you enjoy a little romance with your thrills!

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This book doesn’t release until 2027, but I couldn’t wait.

I love Wendy Walker!

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Review: We’re All Going to Die Tonight! by Veronica Bane

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We're All Going to Die Tonight!We’re All Going to Die Tonight! by Veronica Bane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We’re All Going to Die Tonight! is a fun and engaging YA Thriller, with a classic set-up and plenty of twists. We follow a debate team, traveling home from an unsuccessful meet. Since it’s a long journey, they’ve booked an Airbnb for the night, courtesy of one of their wealthier teammates.

The isolated mansion is perched atop a high hill and is said to be an exact replica of the Vandamm House from Hitchcock’s North by Northwest.

Before they can quite reach the house though, their van gets a flat tire, stranding them in the middle of nowhere in a heavy storm. They’re close though, so they decide to walk through the woods to the house.

Once they arrive, they’re drenched and tired, and honestly, pretty sick of one another. With 7 teammates, and 3 chaperones, even this mansion feels too small.

The storm increases and ends up knocking out the power, because of course it does. As the teens stumble around in the dark, trying to figure out what’s going on, they discover a severed landland, one of their friends unconscious after an attack, and a dead body outside.

The night has spiraled out of control, and with no idea who the killer might be, tension reaches an all time high. They have no idea who they can trust? Is the killer one of them, or is there a stranger lurking somewhere on this property?

This was a quick and entertaining read. I loved the set-up and the setting of the secluded mansion. I did find the outcome a little predictable, but still had fun, nevertheless.

The group of characters is super messy. There’s so much drama amongst them all, not just with the kids, but with the chaperones as well. I was sitting back with my popcorn just taking it all in.

I did feel like Bane maybe showed her hand a little too early, as far as who was behind it all, but maybe that’s just me coming at it with a lot of years of Horror experience.

It is for a YA audience, and perhaps some of the clues may not seem as obvious to someone just getting into the genre, or with a bit less insight into how these scenarios tend to play out. Maybe I’m just that good. ((LOL))

I didn’t need to be surprised by the outcome to enjoy it though. It was still a thrilling ride, and I loved the complicated, OTT-character dynamics. There was plenty of motivations for murder flowing around this group.

I’ve never read anything from this author before, but she’s definitely been added to my list of YA Thriller authors that I keep on my radar. I’ll never get too old for YA Thrillers, or Horror. I love the captivating stories that can be found within these genres in this age group. They’re generallly a bit less serious than novels in the Adult space, but no less enjoyable, IMO.

Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would definitely recommend this to other YA Thriller fans. It’s a great time!

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Review: A Perfect Mother by Miranda Smith

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A Perfect MotherA Perfect Mother by Miranda Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

A Perfect Mother is a fast-paced Popcorn Thriller following a Momfluencer whose daughter gets kidnapped from a hotel whilst she’s speaking at an event. Her nanny, who was with her daughter at the time, was attacked in the hotel restroom and Stella, her daughter, disappeared from there.

We follow Megan as she desperately aids in the tense and desperate search for her daughter. We also get the kidnappers perspective, and deep dive into Megan’s past.

Even though she’s marketed herself as the perfect mother, it turns out, Megan hasn’t always been so perfect.

Since we get the kidnapper’s perspective as well, it does make it less mysterious, and a bit more like a cat and mouse game between Megan and the perpetrator. I actually enjoyed that. Especially since the two are connected, and the way Smith revealed that connection was intriguing to follow.

Overall, the story is entertaining and I did have fun with the various twists and developments. While it didn’t blow me away, it didn’t do anything wrong either. It’s just a good, solid read for anyone who needs something light and quick. It’s not super memorable, but I didn’t need it to be.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, for providing me with a copy to read and review!

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Review: Dead Girls Tell No Tales by Carissa Ann Lynch

~ megs14malloy

Dead Girls Tell No TalesDead Girls Tell No Tales by Carissa Ann Lynch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Dead Girls Tell No Tales follows a downtrodden Fantasy author, Adriana McMahon, who after some life issues, moves back in with her Mom in her small Indiana hometown.

Adriana, struggling with writer’s block, is running out of money quick. At this point, she’s worried her publisher is going to show up, demanding her advance back. It’s dire times at the McMahon house.

Desperate to make ends meet, Adriana gets a job at a local shop. It’s there that she meets 17-year old, Rebel James, a high school girl with a love of creative writing.

Rebel is noticeably an outcast amongst her peers. She’s in need of a friend, or any sort of adult figure in her life, frankly. When she approaches Adriana about helping her with a writing project, Adriana’s hesitant, but she also sees glimmers of herself in Rebel, and does want to help.

She ends accepting Rebel’s request, and becomes a bit of a mentor to the teen. When Rebel suddenly disappears, and bodies of dead girls begin being found in the local area, Adriana becomes desperate to find out if her friend is okay, something no one else seems to understand.

Making matters more upsetting, it seems the murders are mirroring some of Rebel’s stories. Was Rebel trying to tell Adriana something through her writing?

Additionally, it all seems oddly-connected to Adriana’s own past, stirring up buried memories of her best friend she lost years before. The entire affair puts Adriana in a tailspin, making her logic and reasoning hard for others to follow.

Her Mom thinks she’s lost it, as do the local authorities, who are watching her closely because of her arguably erratic behavior. But Adriana knows something dark is going on in this town, and she’s gonna get to the bottom of it come hell or high water.

Dead Girls Tell No Tales is a true Popcorn Thriller. I could totally imagine this playing out as a Lifetime movie, and I don’t mean that in a bad way.

It kept me invested the whole way through. It did take me a few minutes to get used to Adriana’s narrative voice. She’s a quirky one, but after I just accepted the fact it is who she is, I started to really enjoy it.

I think part of it is related to the personal tragedies she suffered as teen. I feel like she got sort of stunted in that part of her growth, so at times, you think, how old is this woman? But honestly, in relation to everything going on, it does make sense.

I wouldn’t say there’s anything ground-breaking about the plot, but it was still entertaining and a fun weekend read. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

I think The Bachelorette Party is still my favorite from this author, but this would be a close second. It reminded me a lot of Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush, and I did enjoy this one more.

I would recommend this to Readers of Popcorn Thrillers. If you’re looking for something quick and suspenseful, that won’t require you to burn down all your brain power during the reading process, this could be the book for you.

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had a great time.

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Review: Scary Movie Night by Miranda Smith

~ megs14malloy

Scary Movie NightScary Movie Night by Miranda Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Scary Movie Night is a modern Popcorn Thriller meets Locked Room Murder Mystery, that also manages to bring all the luxury of Old Hollywood at the same time. It’s sounds like a lot, and it sort of is, but I had a blast reading it.

In this story, we follow Tippi, who has recently broken off her engagement and is planning to travel to Europe for a reset. Before she goes though, her BFF decides to throw her a horror-themed party for her upcoming 35th-birthday.

Tippi, named for Tippi Hedren, of Hitchcock’s The Birds fame, is a huge Hitchcock fan. In fact, she wrote a book on it, Hitchcock films. Thus, the party will stick true to those roots, with the guests even dressing as different characters.

The party is going to be held at Tippi’s Grandmother’s lavish mansion. Tippi was raised by her Grandmather, Marmee, and the two remain very close. Even though Tippi’s not really in a mood to party, she appreciates the gesture, and honestly, how bad can it be?

It’s just for a weekend and the guest list is small, just Tippi and 5 of her closest friends, plus Marmee squirreled away in her room upstairs. What could possibly go wrong?

The tone is set when before the party is even in full swing, Tippi discovers a mysterious and threatening note on the gifts table. Her first thought is her ex, Oliver, could he possibly be there, lurking around the enormous property? Who else would have written such a nasty note?

Then the terror escalates, it’s not just notes, people are getting hurt, disappearing and worse. Tippi and the other guests find themselves thrust into the action of a Thriller movie, and Tippi wants no part of it. This night will change everything forever. Who will even make it out alive?

As a Hitchcock girlie, this was such an enjoyable read. I loved the set-up and the mixed media elements Smith included. We actually get little excerpts from Tippi’s book, where she discusses some of Hitchcock’s most popular films. I loved that and how certain plot points from those films could be loosely found within this story.

I loved Tippi and her Grandmother, Marmee. Their relationship was great, though I was disturbed by the fact that, with everything going on, Tippi just left Marmee upstairs in her bedroom alone. Like don’t worry, there’s only an apparent killer on the loose, just stay here.

It definitely gets wacky and OTT in the 2nd-half, but I was eating it up. I was sat and invested in the chaos. The friend group is freaking messy. Everyone had secrets and sort of nasty personalities, NGL, besides Tippi and her bestie.

I loved the atmosphere as well. Marmee’s mansion is stacked with luxurious items and memorabilia of Old Hollywood. There’s also inclement weather, and though the mansion is large, a feeling of claustrophobia does set in once the intensity amps up. It did feel quite cinematic because of that.

Overall, I just felt like this was a really entertaining dark Thriller. It’s messy and high stakes, with a cast of morally grey characters and captivating twists. I would recommend it to Horror Thriller Readers, or fans of Hitchcock films.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I enjoyed this a lot more than Smith’s earlier release, Smile for the Cameras, and I’m excited to pick up more from her.

We love an upward trajectory with an author’s work!

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Review: Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox

~ megs14malloy

Party of LiarsParty of Liars by Kelsey Cox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Party of Liars is just my kind of Thriller/Domestic Suspense. This story follows multiple perspectives over the course of the narrative and I loved watching all of the connections and dirty laundry be exposed.

I do love a ‘Rich People Behaving Badly’ type of story and I would argue this definitely falls into that category. The story revolves around Sophie Matthews’ Sweet 16 Birthday Party, at her Dad’s lavish estate in Texas.

Sophie’s parents, Ethan and Kim are divorced, and Ethan has remarried a much younger woman named Dani. The couple now have their own infant daughter, Charlotte. Kim is somewhat disgruntled about the way Ethan has chosen to move on, as you can imagine.

All of their friends are in attendance, in addition to Sophie’s friends. Drinks are flowing, the music is pumping, and things heat up quickly.

The party ends in a death, with the who and why revealed very late in the story. I loved the build-up and was sitting like a patron in a theater, totally entranced as all the juicy details came to light.

Orlaith the superstitious Irish nanny turned out to be my favorite character. She was hired to help with Charlotte and I loved how insightful her perspective felt.

She wasn’t really a part of this world, like all of the other characters involved, so it felt like her perspective was giving us a pretty clear outline of all that was going on. People never seemed to notice her, or take her seriously, which allowed her to observe a lot.

At the same time, there was something almost fantastical-feeling about her position there. She reminded me a bit of a fairy godmother. I just loved that she was included.

I really enjoyed the full cast audio and would recommend that as a format for taking in the story. Having the different narrators for the varying perspectives helped to keep everything straight, and helped bring the action to life.

I’ve never read from Kelsey Cox before, but I’m looking forward to more!

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Review: When I Kill You by B.A. Paris

~ megs14malloy

When I Kill YouWhen I Kill You by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

A fun and fast-paced Popcorn Thriller from one of my go-to Thriller authors, B.A. Paris. Paris never fails to pull me in and keep me guessing throughout her stories.

In this novel, the Reader follows Nell Masters, but it seems that the Reader isn’t the only person following dear Nell. Nell has a stalker. She knows it. She can feel them watching her. Work, home and everywhere in between. There’s nowhere she feels safe.

Nell thinks the stalker may be tied to her dramatic past. Fourteen years ago, Nell was actually Elle Nugent. She witnessed a young coed getting into a car, and shortly thereafter the young woman’s dead body was found.

Elle became obsessed with finding the girl’s killer. She was right there, she saw her just before she was murdered. She saw the car she got into. Elle’s digging leads her to suspect a man named Brett Parker and her suspicions push her down a very dangerous path.

Unfortunately, Elle’s obsession ended in disaster, and now she feels those past actions are coming back to haunt her. Has someone from that dark past figured out her new identity and tracked her down? Is someone out for revenge?

I didn’t even read the synopsis for this prior to picking it up. I see B.A. Paris’s name on the cover and I’m going to read it. There’s no question about it.

The story is told via Nell/Elle’s perspective, both past and present, and weaves together how her past choices have shaped her into the individual she is today. The audiobook, narrated by Georgia Maguire, was very convincing. It felt like I was truly listening to Nell tell her story.

There were also snippets from what appears to be some sort of journal. These added a nice mixed media feel to the overall narrative. These snippets are mysterious, perhaps written by the stalker?

I liked following along as the truth of this story unfolded. Because of her past, Nell had a hard time trusting other people, but at the point we meet her, she has created a small circle of friends and even has a promising love interest.

As the story progresses, Nell becomes more and more paranoid that someone is onto her and that someone wants her to pay for her past. I enjoyed how the intensity continued to build throughout and I thought the conclusion was satisfying.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with copies to read and review. This was so entertaining and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys an OTT-fast and fun Thriller.

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Review: The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini

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The Day I Lost YouThe Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Day I Lost You is the 2025-release from Ruth Mancini, author of the popular 2024-Thriller, The Woman on the Ledge, which I adored. Ever since reading TWOTL, I’ve been looking forward to more from this author.

I’m happy to report I found this book to be equally twisty and fast-paced. Even though the content didn’t wow me quite as much as TWOTL, I still found this to be so enjoyable and I read it in an afternoon without stopping.

This story spans two countries, Spain and the UK, and involves a reportedly missing child. The child’s name is Sam, and he’s actually just a little baby when he’s thrust into the middle of a lot of adult drama.

Lauren and Hope are our two female leads, and it’s interesting following along as the truths of their connection is revealed. I actually really appreciated how Mancini rolled this all out. There’s a lot of moving pieces. You go in, of course knowing nothing, and as the narrative progresses, more and more pieces slot into place.

As the larger picture reveals itself, some details become predictable, IMO, but for me, not in a way that negatively effected my experience. I still enjoyed the journey to the conclusion, even if I knew exactly where we were headed.

I was lucky enough to have access to the audiobook and I thought it was so well done. I loved the full cast narration and the inclusion of some mixed media passages truly brought the drama to life.

Additionally, the fast-paced narrative worked so well in audio form. It was truly gripping. I enjoyed the time shifts, as well, as all the puzzle pieces came together. I respect Mancini’s concepts and writing style so much. I’m looking forward to more from her in the future.

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Perennial and Harper Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I had a lot of fun with this!

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Review: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

~ megs14malloy

My Husband's WifeMy Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a rejuvenating run, Eden Fox, an up-and-coming artist, returns to her recently-acquired home, a beautiful property known as Spyglass, only to be faced with a locked door and a key that no longer fits the lock.

Saying she’s confused is putting it mildly, but the confusion turns to fear after she knocks, and a woman who could pass for her twin answers the door. Her husband appears as well, but instead of clearing things up, he acts like he doesn’t know her, and claims the other woman is his wife.

We also follow a woman named Birdy, whose long-lost grandmother was once the proud owner of Spyglass. Birdy’s perspective is quite different for Eden’s, and involves her discovery of a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s death date.

As you can imagine, both of these perspectives are intriguing in their own right. As you go back and forth between the two women, and others, pieces begin slotting into place and you’re left pondering, how are they connected?

Secrets, mystery, deception and obsession, this story has it all. Grab your popcorn and buckle up, because it’s a wild ride. The perfect read if you need a distraction from the world. I read this in a day after a terrible winter storm had knocked out our power for days.

Luckily, I had this downloaded and it definitely saved my mood from getting too low. I listened to it all at once, while I cleaned and tidied as much as I could, and I was absolutely swept up into the story.

The audiobook is fantastic, with multiple narrators and occasional sound effects, this production succeeded in bringing the drama and action of this story to life. It felt like a cinematic event versus a book. I highly recommend the audio format for those who enjoy audiobooks.

I consider Alice Feeney to be the Queen of Twists, and this novel did nothing but solidify that belief. My Husband’s Wife was so crazy and outrageously fun. All of the unpredictable drama, the turns, the sly shifts in perspective bringing continuous new insights, I loved it all.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. As always, Feeney is an absolute delight to read. I’m looking forward to whatever she writes next!!

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Review: Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

~ megs14malloy

Forget Me NotForget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Claire’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared 22-years ago. This was a traumatizing event for young-Claire, and she’s carried heavy feelings regarding it ever since. It severed their family and nothing was ever the same.

In fact, after leaving home for college, Claire has never returned. She was more than happy to leave the past in the past, where it belongs.

She moved to a city and worked her way up as an investigative journalist. Recently, after not receiving a promotion she should have been a shoe-in for, she gave up her position and decided to do freelance work.

Unfortunately, securing that work has been more difficult than she anticipated, so when she receives a call from her Dad saying her Mom has been injured and can use her help, she decides to go to her aide.

Returning to her hometown after such a long period of time away churns up all sorts of buried emotions. Additionally, her estranged mother doesn’t seem all that happy to see her, like not at all. It hurts.

With nothing but time stretching ahead of her, and restless where she’s at, Claire decides to do a little digging. She’s an investigative journalist, after all.

She decides to go to visit Galloway Farm, the vineyard in South Carolina where Natalie had a Summer job just prior to her disappearance. The visit ends up turning into temporary work for Claire, who although she’s never been a farm hand, is excited about the offer of free room and board.

The idyllic escape quickly moves in a more mysterious direction though after she stumbles across the owner’s wife’s old diary stashed away in her cottage. Originally thinking it’s just a tale of young love, Claire is surprised when the diary reveals much darker truths involving unsolved crimes and missing persons.

I really enjoyed my time reading Forget Me Not. Stacy Willingham definitely knows how to write a compelling and suspense-filled story. I always anticipate her latest releases, and so far, I’ve never been let down.

I read this via audio, and it does feature dual narration, with one of my favorite voice artists, Karissa Vacker, voicing Claire, and Helen Laser voicing the diary bits. I appreciated that the publisher chose to use the two narrators as it really helped to make the separate sections distinct.

This also features a couple of my favorites tropes, the MC returning to her hometown after a long-time away and the found diary, so it was sort of fated to work for me.

I also tend to love mystery stories that follow journalists, because it feels natural for them to be digging into things the way they do. It doesn’t seem forced, or far-fetched. It’s literally part of their jobs and they have the training and experience to do so.

I felt bad for Claire as a character. My heart definitely went out to her. She lost her sister, a person she idolized, and through that also ended up losing her Mom and Dad. They separated, and her family unit all went their separate ways. She felt very alone.

The intensity builds steadily throughout. It pulls you in and while I did guess a few of the big twists that were revealed, there were many more that I didn’t see coming.

This is def entertaining and I would recommend it to Mystery, Thriller and Suspense Readers. I’m not sure how memorable it’ll be for me long term, but it was very fun.

It’s a bit culty, a bit cringey domestic drama and dark family secrets. It’s got a lot going for it, honestly, for those of us who love messy relationship dynamics.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I’ve enjoyed all of Willingham’s books and will be anxiously awaiting whatever she writes next. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us.

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