May thriller roundup
The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas
Under the impossibly blue sky of a Greek island paradise, Evelyn and Richard, newlyweds on their honeymoon, feel the tremors of their perfect world cracking as the island's inhabitants turn sinister in the face of a coming storm. The hotel's guests and staff all seem obsessed with the anniversary of the 'sleepwalkers', a couple of walked into the sea and drowned a year ago, but for Evelyn and Richard, the approaching deluge will bring a living nightmare. A bleak and suspenseful thriller with themes of sexuality, fidelity, and secrets.
The North Line by Matt Riordan
Civilization thins at the edges, and some lines become blurred in the face of raw survival. Adam carries a burden of carefully crafted myths – stories spun for others, sometimes even for himself. On the edge of the unforgiving Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska and lured by the promise of a quick buck, Adam joins an fishing crew, diving headfirst into a world where the sea exposes all pretenses. The harsh reality of the fisherman's life strips him bare, forcing a brutal confrontation with his true self. A thriller in the style of Jack London, with the author's personal experiences bringing gravitas to the writing.
Beyond All Doubt by Hilton Reed
Cameron Kane is a widower raising a seven year old and grieving the death of his wife Alison in a fiery car crash with her Bitcoin billionaire boss Maxwell Harding. When he sees a man on the street that resembles the dead Harding, Kane goes down a dark and twisting rabbit hole to uncover the secrets behind his wife's death. Strong characters are supported by an action filled plot that will entice fans of Meg Gardiner and Karin Slaughter.
Halfway House by Helen Fitzgerald
Lou is a young woman come home to Edinburgh from the disastrous break up of her Australian love affair. After multiple rejections she is just happy to have a job, as a night caretaker at a halfway house. But the reality of the situation - bunking down with celebrity paedophiles, murderers and drug dealers, is not what she expected and she soon finds herself in a fight for her life. Fitzgerald's sharp writing keeps the tension high, making for a darkly funny and intelligent satire.
The Night She Fell by Eileen Merriman
A chilly Dunedin night witnesses a young student's tragic plunge from a balcony. The investigation that unfolds by the unveils a side to Ashleigh, the victim, that nobody suspected. Was her fall a desperate escape from the mounting pressures of adulthood or something more sinister? Amidst the backdrop of a vividly portrayed Dunedin student life, the suspense builds as none of the characters are what they seem. This captivating whodunit by Merriman will keep you guessing until the very end.
Beneath the glittering facade of a Los Angeles casino, Meg navigates the high-stakes world of security, exposing high rollers who are scamming the system and living in the shadow of her famous actress sister Haley, while dealing with her own demons. When Haley dies in a remote rehab facility, Meg is unable to believe her sister took her own life, and haunted by her own addictions, embarks on a personal crusade for the truth. There can't be many settings more creepy for a thriller than a remote medical facility in a creepy old mansion and this suspenseful thriller plunges you into a world where nothing is as it seems.
Harbor Lights by James Lee Burke
A collection of short stories from one of America's greatest thriller novelists, known for his gritty, salt of the earth characters and sparse realism. 'Harbor Lights unfolds in stories that crackle and reverberate as unexpected heroes emerge.'
Twenty Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate
A decade ago, tragedy struck when Phoebe Dean lost her life in a car crash, with her brother Grant behind the wheel. Yet, it wasn't until 27 minutes later that Grant called for help, precious moments that might have altered the course of his sister's life. Now, on the brink of Phoebe's memorial, the small town of West Wilmer finds itself torn apart by questions: was it merely an accident, or does a more ominous truth lurk behind the events of that fateful night? A chilling and suspenseful narrative of a town grappling with the scars and mysteries of a tragedy from years past, for fans of Jane Harper and Holly Jackson
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
This new arrival from one of the most popular thriller authors of 2024 sees a school in turmoil from multiple scandals. Last year, a student-teacher affair shattered the school's peace. At the heart of it all was Addie, a student maths teacher Eve suspected was more victim than villain. Whispers painted Addie as a liar, a heartbreaker, a destroyer. But Eve sensed a deeper truth hidden beneath the rumors. A twisted and twisty plot that will appeal to readers of Rachel Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.
The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan
A wisecracking ghostwriter who spins tales for the rich and famous has just snagged the golden ticket: a tell-all memoir for Dorothy Gibson, the recent presidential candidate everyone calls "that woman." Whisked off to a secluded mansion with the hated politician, where the neighbors are about as friendly as a dental exam, our narrator is thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. A classic and slightly old fashioned murder mystery where the hero reveals the killer to the suspects at the end of the story.
