Kimball knew Joan years ago, but when she suddenly appears to hire Kimball to investigate her, perhaps, soon-to-be ex-husband, a job that should be fairly ordinary becomes anything but that. After the case takes a completely unexpected turn, Kimball realises too late that it is entirely possible that nothing in this case is quite what it seems. Worst of all, he suspects that to solve the case he has found himself embroiled in, it is likely he will have to go back and re-examine the worst day of his entire life, in hopes of finding answers. Kimball enlists the help of the devious and brilliant Lily Kintner as it becomes clear that a murderer is not only on the loose, but is headed in Kimball’s direction.

Fans of Swanson’s work, particularly The Kind Worth Killing, will undoubtedly enjoy The Kind Worth Saving as it recaptures the twists, the pace, and the fascinating characters of the former. But as mentioned above, the earlier book does not have to have been read first. Everything a reader needs to know about the past is re-capped within the text. The Kind Worth Killing was my introduction to Swanson and remains one of my all-time favourite thrillers and The Kind Worth Saving pairs exceptionally well with it. Any reader who enjoys diving into the excitement of the traditional cat-and-mouse chase will find that plus so much more in Peter Swanson’s newest novel.

The Kind Worth Saving is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Kind Worth Saving? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In this spectacularly devious novel by New York Times bestselling author Peter Swanson—featuring the smart and complex Lily Kintner from his acclaimed novel, The Kind Worth Killing—a private eye starts to follow a possibly adulterous husband, but little does he know that the twisted trail will lead back to the woman who hired him.

There was always something slightly dangerous about Joan. So, when she turns up at private investigator Henry Kimball’s office asking him to investigate her husband, he can’t help feeling ill at ease. Just the sight of her stirs up a chilling memory: he knew Joan in his previous life as a high school English teacher, when he was at the center of a tragedy.

Now Joan needs his help in proving that her husband is cheating. But what should be a simple case of infidelity becomes much more complicated when Kimball finds two bodies in an uninhabited suburban home with a “for sale” sign out front. Suddenly it feels like the past is repeating itself, and Henry must go back to one of the worst days of his life to uncover the truth.

Is it possible that Joan knows something about that day, something she’s hidden all these years? Could there still be a killer out there, someone who believes they have gotten away with murder? Henry is determined to find out, but as he steps closer to the truth, a murderer is getting closer to him, and in this hair-raising game of cat and mouse only one of them will survive.

The post Review: The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Nine Lives is an intense thriller that, while completely modern, is also a tribute to classic mystery stories. Chapters rotate through the lives and perspectives of the main characters—nine total strangers who have each received a list of the names of these nine people. No other information, no letter, no explanation, just a list. The characters themselves are all so unique and fascinating that when the narrative does rotate and changes from one to another, there is never a moment of being “let down” because you wanted to get back to someone else’s story. Every character’s part in the big picture is suspenseful, entertaining, and brilliantly crafted.

One name on the list is an FBI agent, and she is determined to solve the puzzle of who these people are (to someone) and what they have in common. This can’t be dismissed as a prank, or as a computer glitch that just tossed nine names out, because one of the men on the list is drowned on the beach in Maine with the list still clutched in his hand. Terrible things start to happen to the people on this list…but why?

In hindsight, there are clues along the way for the astute reader to pick up on, but this is not going to be one of those books where the reader can say, “I had it all figured out before I got to page 50!” Swanson waits to unfold the final answers in classic mystery style. Just like the “Here’s what happened…” moments of great television mysteries like Murder, She Wrote, Columbo, or Monk, Swanson builds the suspense to the boiling point before giving the reader the answers they have been searching for.

Undoubtedly one of my favourite books of 2022 so far, and highly recommended for fans of Peter Swanson’s previous thrillers, fans of classic mysteries, and readers looking for an outstanding page-turner to get sucked in to.

Nine Lives is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Nine Lives? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

The story of nine strangers who receive a cryptic list with their names on it – and then begin to die in highly unusual circumstances.

Nine strangers receive a list with their names on it in the mail. Nothing else, just a list of names on a single sheet of paper. None of the nine people know or have ever met the others on the list. They dismiss it as junk mail, a fluke – until very, very bad things begin happening to people on the list. First, a well-liked old man is drowned on a beach in the small town of Kennewick, Maine. Then, a father is shot in the back while running through his quiet neighborhood in suburban Massachusetts. A frightening pattern is emerging, but what do these nine people have in common? Their professions range from oncology nurse to aspiring actor.

FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is on the list herself, is determined to find out. Could there be some dark secret that binds them all together? Or is this the work of a murderous madman? As the mysterious sender stalks these nine strangers, they find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be crossed off next….

The post Review: Nine Lives by Peter Swanson appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Abigail is about to marry Bruce, who is wealthy and completely different from every man she has ever been in a relationship with before. Unfortunately, a drunken one night stand with a stranger at her bachelorette party has filled her with guilt, even when she tries to rationalize that it happened before she was actually married. Those feelings of guilt are amplified into worry, and eventually fear when the stranger (who she met in California) suddenly appears in her neighbourhood in New York City. Not only in New York City in the days leading up to the wedding, but he is even there at the remote island resort that Bruce has brought them to for their honeymoon.

The stranger’s sudden appearance is not the only unsettling thing about the resort, however, as Abigail can not seem to shake the feeling that something is truly wrong here. Sometimes unable to believe her own eyes and ears, she is even more troubled when no one else seems to take her concerns seriously.

Swanson’s beautifully detailed descriptions will put the reader right on that island, seeing, hearing, and feeling all of Bruce and Abigail’s surroundings. But in his exquisitely chilling words, the reader also starts to feel Abigail’s desperation and confusion.

Readers who need main characters to be likeable might struggle here. Abigail and Bruce are both frustrating people and I know for certain that I scoffed at, sighed over, and shook my head disapprovingly at them on multiple occasions. They are excellently drawn characters, but as people, you would never really feel like you could fully trust either of them. In fact, if you were their mutual friend, I think you would often wonder, “What do these two see in each other exactly?”

Fans of tense thrillers like B. A. Paris’s Behind Closed Doors will undoubtedly love the tightly wound suspense that Swanson has weaved throughout Every Vow You Break. Keeping in mind the song from The Police where this book gets its title, and how people sometimes think of it as a love song, (but it really, REALLY isn’t), then you will perfectly understand the mood of this exciting thriller.

Every Vow You Break is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of March 23rd 2021.

Will you be picking up Every Vow You Break? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up in this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders.

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. He’s a good guy, stable, level-headed, kind—a refreshing twist from her previous relationships.

But right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident—and the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name—out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life.

Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Something special. Something real—and he’s tracked her down to prove it.

Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

The post Review: Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sharp Objects meets My Lovely Wife in this tightly drawn debut that peels back the layers of the most complicated of mother-daughter relationships…

The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan
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From the critically acclaimed author of Rainbirds comes a novel of tragedy and dark histories set in Japan. Expanding on the beautifully crafted world of Rainbirds, Clarissa Goenawan gradually pierces through a young woman’s careful façade, unmasking her most painful secrets.

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Midwives and The Flight Attendant comes a twisting story of love and deceit: an American man vanishes on a rural road in Vietnam, and his girlfriend, an emergency room doctor trained to ask questions, follows a path that leads her home to the very hospital where they met.

Hide Away by Jason Pinter
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the bestselling author of the Henry Parker series comes a page-turning thriller about a vigilante who’s desperate to protect her secrets—and bring a killer to justice.

The Sea of Lost Girls: A Novel by Carol Goodman
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In the tradition of Daphne du Maurier, Shari Lapena, and Michelle Richmond comes a new thriller from the bestselling author of The Lake of Dead Languages—a twisty, harrowing story set at a prestigious prep school in which one woman’s carefully hidden past might destroy her future.

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
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A mother and daughter with a shared talent for healing–and for the conjuring of curses–are at the heart of this dazzling first novel.

The Herd by Andrea Bartz
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When an exclusive New York women’s workspace is rocked by the mysterious disappearance of its enigmatic founder, two sisters must uncover the haunting truth before they lose their friendships, their careers–maybe even their lives.

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
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Told from multiple points of view, A Good Neighborhood asks big questions about life in America today―What does it mean to be a good neighbor? How do we live alongside each other when we don’t see eye to eye?―as it explores the effects of class, race, and heartrending star-crossed love in a story that’s as provocative as it is powerful

The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm
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New friends can be found in unexpected places. For Bridget and Amy, that place was the cancer ward of an Anchorage hospital. Now, as each struggles to overcome loss, they lean on each other for support—sharing suppers, laughter and tears.

The Deep by Alma Katsu
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Brilliantly combining fact and fiction, the historical and the horrific, The Deep reveals a chilling truth in an unputdownable narrative full of unnerving moments and with a growing, inexorable sense of foreboding.

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A chilling tale of psychological suspense and an homage to the thriller genre tailor-made for fans: the story of a bookseller who finds himself at the center of an FBI investigation because a very clever killer has started using his list of fiction’s most ingenious murders.

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel
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A spellbinding story of a mother with nothing left to lose who sets out on an all-consuming quest for justice after her daughter is murdered on the town playground.

Are you looking forward to any of these releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post March 2020 Book Releases: Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is a tale about the aftermath of a missing child and unanswered questions that have lingered for ten years and it will have you glued to the pages from cover to cover.

Emma In The Night by Wendy Walker
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Walker always comes through with twists and turns, and this story about missing sisters and family secrets has received high praise all around.

Someone Else’s Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Far be it from me to tell you NOT to read a book, but if you can get the audiobook of Jackson reading her own work and it can’t be beaten. This story about destiny, life, and falling in love at the gas station is smart and funny, and you will be ready to read more form this author.

I Know You Know by Gilly MacMillan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This story of re-opening old wounds when trying to re-examine a 20 year old murder case, that was supposedly solved, will have you turning page after page in this un-put-down-able thriller.

How I Lost You by Jenny Blackhurst
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This debut crime novel is a dark and twisty tale of a mother who murdered her infant son, and after years in a psychiatric facility has been released with a new identity. But soon after beginning her new start at life, everything she has been through gets thrown in to question. What really happened?!

Edge of Dark Water by Joe R. Lansdale
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I admit I am partial to Lansdale because he is a Texas author. The expression I use when describing his work is that you never end up in the story you thought you walked in to and he is a fantastic storyteller, and this is one of his best.

What Happened That Night by Sandra Block
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At the heart of this story is a woman whose life course was completely altered by a brutal assault years before. Her memory of the attack has somehow been ripped away, but one day a video appears online. Now that she knows what happened, she plans to make everyone pay.

An Event in Autumn by Henning Mankell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is an excellent entry point for the Kurt Wallander mysteries, which do not need to be read in order. Even if you have seen one or more of the television adaptations, the books always have an extra twist or wrinkle in them. This book is a great way to see if the series is for you!

The Wizard of Lies by Diana B. Henriques
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This is the non-fiction account of the far-reaching devastation of the fall of Bernie Madoff. This is the book that the HBO film (of the same name) was based on and this extensively researched “true-life financial thriller” examines everything from the broken families, suicides, legal battles, failed businesses, and closed charities that occurred in the wake of Madoff’s arrest.

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This book is perfect for the Hitchcock fan, or any old-school mystery buff. Told from different perspectives throughout the book, it is a fantastic combination of the modern thriller and the traditional cat-and-mouse games of great detective stories.

Any other suggestions? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Reading Challenge Recommendations: Four Word Title appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With that, we take a look at eight outstanding thrillers that came out in 2018 that you just might have missed!

Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This story of two mothers, who both have children at an elite private school, is told through multiple perspectives over two separate timelines. It is a fast-paced attention-grabber and will keep the reader guessing and looking for clues, as one of these women is not who she claims to be! This book examines friendships, family dynamics, betrayal, loyalty, secrets, and so much more.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Part thriller, part ghost story, this tale plays out over two timelines, more than sixty years apart. There are ruins of an old boarding school, a journalist with a tragic connection to the school, and secrets that were meant to stay hidden forever, all coming together in this spooky page-turner.

Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Enjoy books with unlikely duos? This complex tale pairs a former detective who was publicly accused of a terrible crime, but consistently maintained his innocence, with a private investigator who is also a convicted murderer, but who may not be the cold-hearted killer she tries to portray. As they tackle a case together, there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader glued to this book! Fox is a writer that can make the reader feel the atmosphere and the setting as if they are emanating from the pages.

Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two women meet through a chance encounter and a story unravels that brings The Talented Mr. Ripley into the social media world. There’s glitz and glamour, lies and deceit, back-stabbing, and obsession in this tale. Sometimes the reader can see where things are headed and other times the reader will gasp in surprise.

All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This story has a bit of a film noir quality in the way it is told, and the way the events unfold. Swanson continues his streak of writing psychological suspense that is absolutely addicting. Some readers and reviewers could not get past the taboo relationships (and the associated “ick” factor) that occur throughout the book, so online reviews and ratings are all over the place. I personally loved all the twists and turns. This is another book that weaves two different timelines together to make an incredible story.

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This thriller hits the ground running and immediately sweeps the reader up into a murder plot that involves mistaken identities, foreign locations, and international travel. Written so that, at times, the reader knows more than the characters, and at other times the reader is finding out information the same way, and at the same time, as the characters in the book. This story provides twists, turns, and surprises from cover to cover.

If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Full of expertly written characters, this book sets its prologue at the end of the story, and then tells you how it got there. With almost the entire book taking place over just a 5-day period, this story moves along at just the right pace. Covering issues of friendship, isolation, secrets, social media, and family dynamics, it is rich and nuanced as well as being a page-turning thriller.

Force of Nature by Jane Harper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

While one of the main characters in this novel was introduced in Harper’s previous book, The Dry, these are not really part of a series. While The Dry is fantastic, and I highly recommend it, it is not necessary to read it before reading Force of Nature. In this novel, five women are on a corporate team building backpacking trip, but only four women make it out of the woods. The missing woman also happened to have a connection to an ongoing money laundering case, so financial crimes investigators find themselves having to cooperate with the detectives working the missing persons case. Harper writes amazing characters and always uses a story’s setting in an incredibly engaging way.

Go back and look for some of the books you may have missed in the last couple of years! Check out the back catalogues of some of your favourite authors or look at some of your old TBR lists, and see what you might have missed. You are likely to be pleasantly surprised!

Are there any great thrillers from 2018 that you would recommend? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Eight Thrillers From 2018 That You May Have Missed appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading any!

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A new novel from Lisa See, the New York Times bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, about female friendship and family secrets on a small Korean island.

Eight Lives by Susan Hurley
Goodreads | Book Depository

Former refugee David Tran becomes the Golden Boy of Australian medical research and invents a drug that could transform immunology. Eight volunteers are recruited for the first human trial, a crucial step on the path to global fame for David and windfall gains for his investors. But when David dies in baffling circumstances, motives are put under the microscope.

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the hugely talented author of The Kind Worth Killing comes an exquisitely chilling tale of a young suburban wife with a history of psychological instability whose fears about her new neighbour could lead them both to murder . . .

The Shadow Between Us by Carol Mason
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When Olivia moves to Port Townsend, her marriage is floundering, and her life is in pieces. Joining a letter-writing club seems like a harmless decision. But when she meets Ned, an ex-soldier badly wounded in Afghanistan, this unlooked-for friendship revives unexpected emotions and memories she’d rather forget.

Save Me From Dangerous Men by S.A. Lelchuk
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Part Lisbeth Salander, part Jack Reacher, part Jessica Jones, Nikki Griffin is a kickass character who readers will root for as she seeks to right the world’s wrongs. S.A. Lelchuk’s Save Me From Dangerous Men marks the beginning of a gripping new series and the launch of a fabulous new character.

If, Then by Kate Hope Day
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The residents of a sleepy mountain town are rocked by troubling visions of an alternate reality in this dazzling debut that combines the family-driven suspense of Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere with the inventive storytelling of The Immortalists.

Until The Day I Die by Emily Carpenter
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From the bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls comes a riveting novel about a mother and daughter separated by grief, secrets, and a conspiracy that threatens to destroy their lives.

Where The Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah
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In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.

The River by Peter Heller
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From the best-selling author of The Dog Stars, the story of two college students on a wilderness canoe trip–a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, white water, and violence

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
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Introducing a brave, new Arab-American voice, an unflinching debut novel that takes us inside a world where few of us have been before: the lives of conservative Arab women living in America.

Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward
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In the tradition of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train comes the psychological thriller everyone is talking about, a twisted novel about a devoted wife, a loving husband, and a chilling crime that will stun even the cleverest readers.

Cemetery Road by Greg Iles
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Natchez Burning trilogy returns with an electrifying tale of friendship, betrayal, and shattering secrets that threaten to destroy a small Mississippi town.

What March releases are you excited to read? Tell us in the comments below!

The post March Book Releases: Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.