Breadcrumbs and Blindsides

Apart from dropping way too many breadcrumbs, the novel is somewhat of a masterpiece.  McFadden through the writing used in the diary to depict the writing style of the "wife upstairs" beautifully demonstrated the almost puerile innocence which the "wife upstairs" sought to invoke in the reader.  A psychological thriller told as it should be told.  4/5

The story starts with a dead boyfriend and an attempt by best friends to hide the body. The novel is a true slow burn and unfortunately the whodunnit is clear from almost the start. That said, it's an engaging read with the odd twist and turn. 3.5/5

This third novel in the Marlowe Murder Mystery series, and the "formula writing" is coming through pretty clearly in this novel. That said, the principal characters are pretty easy to like and the whodunnit is decently breadcrumbed. 3/5

This novel has the most twists and turns I have come acrosss in a very long time. Thoroughly engaging and enjoyable. 5/5

Two stories told by different protagonists, which are written to cleverly intertwine. The main story concerns the sudden disappearance of a roommate and the discoveries made around it. The other, a young man who becomes obsessed with a mysterious girl. The novel is unfortunately written in extreme detail and at times tends to drag but the reveal is well-written and supported by just enough breadcrumbs. 3/5

A delightfully macabre novel told through both two first person protagonists and earlier written letters penned by the third protagonist.  The novel centres around a rich family, their spectacular family home and the secrets of the deemed imposters in the family, i.e. those who actually control the wealth.  An extremely engaging and very unique novel. 5/5

One of the older novels in the series, but so many twists and turns and whodunnits.  Definitely worth reading. 4/5

A decent, though slower moving whodunnit from The Brighton Mysteries series.  The end is however a bit too "Hallmark channel" for my liking. 3/5

A stunning pseudo supernatural thriller about the effects of a haunted house on different generations of the same family. 4/5

Ritter's books under the Riley Sager nom de plume, thus far, have been written from the point of view of a female protagonist and he does this pretty well (from male perspective - I still need to get my wife's pov once she's read his books).  A hugely intricate supernatural murder mystery, with some brilliant twists and turns; this despite the slightly slow pace. 4/5

A number of magicians are murdered in a "magic act gone wrong" type of way. Everything appears to be connected to a WWII intelligence operation wherein said magicians partook. A well-written era whodunnit, but it lacks breadcrumbs 3.5/5

A decent era crime novel, set in the Chicago syndicate in the late 70s and early 80s. The novel lacks some of the familiar feel of fictionalised real events / people, but the era chosen is very accurately depicted and told with the intimacy of a writer who lived in the era and partook in the event. The story is interesting enough but a little too familiar. 3.5/5

Way too stylistically written. And the central Forrest Gump "hard work and perseverance will always lead to success, irrespective of prior trauma, but with a slither persisting melancholy" theme, is just a little too much. The whodunnit drowns in way too many obvious breadcrumbs. 6/10

Yes, it is more for teenagers, but such an epic protagonist and the witty life observations are just pure Pratchett! 4/5

A decently researched novel written in alternating first person from the perspective of one of the Bundy victims and the women who identified him at the Tallahassee sorority house, and the woman who connected the two.  Well written but at times lacking the expression real insight. 3/5

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