February thriller roundup
Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz
Haunted by her childhood friend's murder, Ruth-Ann Baker suspects the convicted killer had an accomplice. When another girl vanishes, Ruth's obsession reignites, sending her on a global quest. Connecting three women linked to the killer, she races to uncover a dark secret and stop a predator before they strike again. Leave the Girls Behind is the sequel to Bublitz's wildly successful Before You Knew My Name.
1950s London is a city still recovering from the ruins of war. When the biggest heist to date takes place, leaving police red faced and the devastated city in the hands of gangsters, it also throws the community into turmoil. Addie is the daughter of a Jamaican postman caught up in the heist, and Claire, her husband also missing, struggles to keep her teenage sons safe. The story follows these families over the course of half a decade as they struggle with violence, corruption and racism, culminating with the 1958 Notting Hill riots. One of the best thrillers of 2024.
The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen
Kerry, a writer struggling with a failing marriage, a drinking problem and writer's block, takes a caretaker job at the motel hoping for a fresh start. However, she soon discovers a dead body in the snow and finds herself trapped in a blizzard with a potential killer. As Kerry investigates, she uncovers secrets about the motel and its inhabitants, leading her to question her own sanity and wonder if she's the next target. Rich in atmospheric setting with an unreliable narrator this is a twisty read that will keep you guessing to the last page.
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
Rosie Lachlan's life is transformed by a heart transplant, but the gift comes with an unsettling obsession. Convinced her donor was Daphne Thorne, the wife of famous author Morgan Thorne, Rosie fixates on Morgan, believing fate has intertwined their lives. Initiating contact with him through the donor liaison service she masks the true nature of her interests and as their correspondence escalates, Rosie's fantasy of a predestined romance with Morgan consumes her, distracting her from very real dangers. The reader is left questioning Rosie's sanity and Morgan's true nature, caught in a web of obsession, secrets, and potential violence.
What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane
When Dr. Richmond Dougherty, renowned surgeon and local hero dies after a fall down the stairs, the eyes of the community turn to Addison, his now very wealthy wife of three months. As the police and the local gossips circle, Addison focuses on her carefully driven and long held plan - to bring the good Dr. down. His death may have changed her tactics, but it hasn't changed her objective. She's not finished with Richmond Dougherty yet.
Watch Your Back by Terri Parlato
Psychiatrist Eve Thayer understands that accidents happen. Even positive events can arise from misfortune, like her meeting Nathan, her husband, after a car accident landed her at his repair shop. Their whirlwind romance blossomed into seemingly perfect domesticity: a beautiful home, a baby girl, and a seemingly ideal babysitter. Yet, a creeping unease permeates Eve's life. Professionally, her work stress is building, and personally, a recent break-in at a nearby vacant house heightens her anxiety. Detective Rita Myers' investigation casts a shadow over Eve, unsure whether she's a victim or a suspect, as each disturbing incident in their quiet neighborhood seems to connect to her. When a deadly ice storm descends, it shatters the illusion of perfection, exposing the deep fissures in Eve and Nathan's relationship.
In the college's ancient cemetery, five late-shift workers converge each night: a bartender, a rideshare driver, a hotel receptionist, the caretaker of the crumbling church overlooking them, and the college newspaper's editor, always hunting for a scoop. One October night, they stumble upon a fresh grave where none should exist. Who dug it, and for whom? Their questions are interrupted by the gravedigger's return. Following him through the darkness, they discover he might hold the key to recent strange town events that have gripped the headlines. They also realize they're far closer to the heart of the mystery than they ever imagined.
After a drunken rant goes viral, leaving her jobless, friendless, and broke, Bronte finds refuge as an unpaid carer for Nell, a dementia sufferer, on an isolated rural property. Her host, Nell's daughter Veda, runs spiritual rebirthing retreats and adheres to sovereign citizen ideology, rejecting state authority and attracting a small, devoted following. Are they harmless conspiracy theorists, or dangerously paranoid terrorists? Adding to Bronte's unease, Nell's confused ramblings hint at a dark secret. Trapped by her circumstances, Bronte would leave if she could, but she has nowhere else to go.
