Breadcrumbs and Blindsides

Three murders, one on Ferris wheel and two at a magic show, occur in this 1930s locked room adventure.  Classically written and deliciously complicated. 4/5

A decent 'Thursday Murder Club' / 'Strangers on a Train' type whodunnit set in Marlow where three murders, committed with the same antique Luger, are investigated by three ladies in their 70s. 4/5

A psychological thriller set as a multiple whodunnit around the murder of a mother and daughter by either the husband or the other daughter... An event which is posed to repeat itself in the husband's new marriage. A very well written page turner. 4/5

A novel in the genre of women who due to some factor, in this case sleep deprivation / prior sleep walking, becomes mentally impaired with her daily interactions, in this case the abduction of her baby about a year earlier.   This novel is particularly well-written, though the initial unfold comes without any breadcrumbs. The second unfold similarly follows with almost no breadcrumbs.  This despite, the novel is extremely engaging.  4/5

A cross-over novel, taking from the two main current flavours in UK crime fiction, i.e. locked room and aged amateur sleuths. Very well written, so as to keep one guessing right to the end. 4/5

A claustrophobic psychological thriller about two women who share a birthday.  However it soon becomes clear that the willingness of one of these women to bring the other into her podcasts will lead to dreadful consequences.  Extremely well-written and thoroughly engaging. 5/5

A warm and funny little whodunnit, which will crawl into the heart of its readers. Set in San Fransisco around the life of Vera Wong and a death in her "world famous" tea house. 4/5

"Lineage" is a medium paced, first-person, supernatural whodunnit, with suspense and gore similar to that which one would find in a well-written horror novel. The Novel is set in a "spooky"!old house which the protagonist purchased on a whim, as he believes that the "house" basically "spirit" writes for him, while he is going through a spell of writer's block due to an "irrational" fear by him that his deceased abusive father , would come back to life. The novel cleverly relies on a dual unfold , i.e., middle and end, so as to stretch the suspense. An extremely unique but very well written novel, especially around the psychological state of the proponent. 5/5

Cleave has one of the most unique writing styles in the thriller genre and his style usually (as is the case here) finds its outlet in the minds of serial killers and those who 'hunt' them. The black comedy in this novel, is some of his best work, and on par with his Slow Joe character. It's extremely fast moving with many macabre twists and turns. 5/5

Colleen Hoover is known for her romantic writing. Something which, admittedly she does very well. This novel is somewhat darker and an interesting final twist, whilst still having enough on the romantic side to keep the interests of her longtime readers. A fine foray into darker writing, which will serve her well, as the combination of her normal writing and something a bit darker comes very naturally to Hoover. 4/5

I do not often refer to a crime thriller as a powerful novel, but this brutal novel is just that. It is extreme social commentary without being preachy and whilst still being a totally engaging thriller.5/5

A dark thriller focussing on a serial rapist and killer who operated in two parts of Sarah's life, eight years and two relationships apart.  Slaughter's visceral crime depiction is balanced by the backstory of her relationships with Jeremy and Will.  The breadcrumbs leading to the whodunnit is one of the best Slaughter has ever written. 4/5