ajnel's reviews
657 reviews

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The novel explores the dark side of filmmaking and the legacy of a mysterious, lost horror film. The story follows the attempted reboot of a notorious cult classic from the 1990s, only three scenes of which were ever released. As the production gears up, strange occurrences begin to plague those involved, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. Tremblay used a central character of the original film as an (almost) extra in the reboot and as such very intentionally jumps between the two time periods through first person storytelling. "Horror Movie" delves deep into the psychological impact on the remainder of the principal cast (and esp the main protagonist) where one of their ilk accidentally dies during filming leading to the canning of the film and protracted court proceedings.  One might add that the plot of the original film would have made a very compelling slasher film.  An excellent read.
Cabin Fever by Alex Dahl

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Alex Dahl is well-known for her slow burn psychological thrillers with detailed character development which slowly leads to a dreaded and futile climax . "Cabin Fever" is a prime example of her style.  A psychologist, Kristina, is married to the incumbent president of Norway.  She is concerned about an author patient or hers, Leah who has gone missing. As such  Kristina fears Leah was murdered by her on-and-off abusive boyfriend and Kristina eventually decides to drive to Leah's cabin. Here she finds herself snowed in, in the midst of her being confronted with a number of horrors.  Unfortunately the novel is just too slow and too predictable to justify the climatic "twists and turns". 
Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A psychological thriller about Quinn, a woman who seeks refuge at a seemingly ordinary motel, the Baxter Motel. However, the motel harbors a dark past. As Quinn spends the night, she becomes increasingly aware of a strange presence and a disturbing figure watching her from a nearby house. The suspense builds as Quinn must survive the night, facing the secrets of the motel and the danger that lurks within.  A very well-written whodunit with a number of unexpected twists and turns. 4.5/5
Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Devil's Rock plunges you into the chilling aftermath of a 13 year old boy's disappearance after he ventured into the woods of Borderlands State Park with his friends. His mother, Elizabeth, descends into a spiral of grief and worry, further tormented by strange occurrences. She believes she sees a ghostly image of Tommy, and unsettling pages from his journal start appearing around the house. As the search for Tommy continues, the lines between reality and the supernatural blur, forcing Elizabeth and those around her to confront their deepest fears and grapple with the unknown.  Tremblay's talent for writing a supernatural psychological whodunnit is masterfully demonstrated in this novel.  A claustrophobic and emotional novel marred with mental uncertainty and a myriad of twists and turns. 
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Happily married librarian, Martha Ratliff, stumbles upon a suspicious stain on one of her salesman husband, Alan's, shirts after one of his business trip. This ignites a spark of doubt, leading Martha to investigate Alan's past visits. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing pattern in the cities he's traveled to - a series of unsolved murders. Consumed by fear and suspicion, Martha wonders if she's married a serial killer. To find the truth, she seeks help from an old friend, and together they delve into a dangerous web of secrets.  The third novel in the "Lilly" series builds ever so slightly on the previous novels, but this despite, the odd twist and turn plays out against a very decent pace.  The unfold could have been a bit less straightforward, but the final reveal provided some solace for the lack of a whodunnit.  Unfortunately, as is often the case, character development to further the series took over much of the novelm. This let more to a catch a killer finale than a classic Swanson whodunnit.  Still, a very well written novel. 
Saturday Requiem by Nicci French

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Psychotherapist, Frieda Klein, re-investigates a case where 13 years ago, a young woman named Hannah Docherty was convicted of brutally murdering her entire family. The case seemed clear-cut, but when Frieda is asked to assess Hannah, she's struck by something unsettling. Hannah appears broken and haunted, and Frieda can't shake the feeling that there's more to the story. As Frieda delves deeper, she questions the evidence and confronts those involved in the original investigation. The suspense builds as Frieda races to uncover the truth, all while facing a potential stalker from a previous case.  The husband and wife team known as Nicci French usually delivers an excellent whodunnit.  This time around, the characters were either a bit cold or easily dislikeable, and unfortunately this impacted negatively on the manner in which the novel subjectively played out.  The pace was also rather odd and given the huge and slow build-up, the final act is a humdinger of underdeveloped storylines. 
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley is a mystery thriller set at a luxurious new age hotel. The story unfolds over a hot midsummer weekend  culminating on Summer Solstice.  As the secrets and tensions simmer along with the summer heat, a dark past comes back to haunt the new owner, and by Sunday morning, there's a fire, a dead body, and a police investigation. The novel explores the hidden motives and past connections of some of the guests as the mystery of the murder unfolds.  Foley truly has an expert and effortless ability to take the reader to the unique space where her whodunnits unfold. The novel is almost impossible to put down; with Foley weaving us through bombshells, pace changes and cliffhangers.  A must read. 
Dead Tomorrow by Peter James

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

DS Roy Grace is called out to the scene of the  discovery of a teenager's body dredged from the seabed and missing vital organs. Soon thereafter, two more bodies without organs are found. Meanwhile, a desperate mother is faced with a teenage daughter in urgent need of a liver transplant, and the official channels seem unable to provide it in time. As the suspense builds, Roy Grace investigates the recovered bodies, leading him down a dark path that uncovers a human trafficking ring. A fast-paced thriller with a strong human story.  Well written and extremely compelling. 
Looking Good Dead by Peter James

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Tom Bryce, is a man who becomes a witness to a murder after finding a mysterious CD on a train and watching the snuff film contained on it. When he tries to do the right thing and approach the police, he puts himself and his family in danger. DS Roy Grace, who is battling his own personal demons, is tasked with solving the murder and protecting Tom Bryce from the ruthless killers.  Obviously, the killers go after Bryce's wife and not Bryce, thus leading to a much more complex situation.  This novel is a tour de force in mystery crime writing.  Everything is just perfect. 
Dead Man's Footsteps by Peter James

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

DS Roy Grace investigates an apparent cold case that resurfaced with the discovery of skeletal remains in Brighton. The investigation takes a surprising turn when the timeline links back to the terror attack on the US on 9/11. Meanwhile, a young woman finds herself hunted through the streets of Brighton by an apparently angry ex-boyfriend. Roy must race against time to solve the cold case and connect the dots to the present danger. Another well-developed faced-paced thriller by James.  The novel however totally moves away from being a whodunnit, which is a bit of a personal bugbear for me.