BookwormBurrows

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The Silent Bride

by Shalini Boland

Pub Date:

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on Jul 02 2025

The Silent Bride by Simon McCleave is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into the consequences of a single, life-altering choice. The story follows Helen Brister, who moves to a quiet suburb in an effort to start fresh, only to find herself tied to a dark past.
McCleave creates a tense atmosphere with richly drawn domestic settings, making the suburban backdrop feel both familiar and unsettling. Through Helen’s perspective, the novel explores themes of guilt, trust, and the ripple effects of our actions.
The writing is sharp and engaging, with a steady pace that keeps readers turning pages. While not overloaded with action, the tension rises in subtle ways—small reveals and character interactions build suspense organically, leading to a satisfying climax.
Helen is a believable and relatable protagonist, convincing in her emotional turmoil and determination. The supporting cast brings depth to the story, each character adding layers to the mystery. The Silent Bride is a suspenseful, well-crafted thriller driven by strong character development and atmospheric tension. Ideal for fans of domestic noir and psychological thrillers.

he Second Stranger

by Martin Griffin

Pub Date:

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on Jul 02 2025

The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin is a tense and atmospheric thriller set in a remote Scottish hotel during a snowstorm. The story follows a woman working at the hotel who is forced to make quick, life-or-death decisions when two strangers arrive — and one of them may be dangerous.
The novel is filled with suspense and mystery, keeping the reader guessing about who can be trusted. The isolated setting adds to the tension, creating a claustrophobic and eerie mood throughout the book. Griffin does a great job building suspense and slowly revealing the characters’ secrets.
The writing is clear and engaging, and the plot moves at a good pace with twists that are both surprising and satisfying. The main character is relatable and resourceful, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as the story unfolds. Overall, The Second Stranger is a gripping, well- written thriller that’s perfect for fans of psychological suspense and locked-room mysteries.

Hunter

by Ross Greenwood

Pub Date:

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on Jul 02 2025

Hunter by Ross Greenwood is a fast-paced and gripping crime thriller that follows the story of Alex Hunter, a man with a dark past who takes justice into his own hands. The book explores themes of revenge, morality, and what happens when the justice system doesn’t work.
Greenwood’s writing is clear and engaging, with short, sharp chapters that make it easy to keep reading. The story is full of suspense and action, and the characters feel realistic and well- developed. Alex Hunter is a complex main character — both flawed and sympathetic — which keeps the reader interested in his choices.
The plot moves quickly, with plenty of twists and tense moments that keep you guessing. While the book can be quite dark at times, it’s also thought-provoking and emotional.

Friday, January 10, 2025

36 Hours (Detective Kim Stone Book 21)

by Angela Marsons

Pub Date:

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on Jan 10 2025

36 Hours is another masterpiece from Angela Marsons. DI Kim Stone and the team are back, when nemesis journalist, Tracy Frost receives a cryptic email instructing her to enlist her help carefully, she knows exactly who to ask. Together they must solve the clues by the time deadline otherwise people will die. Time is ticking and the clues are getting more cryptic. The team work tirelessly to beat the perpetrator and put their differences with Frost aside.
Cleverly written, the wit and camaraderie of the team shine through in this gritty thriller. A likeable group, that always put their work first. You are never disappointed with a Kim Stone read. 5 stars!

Sunday, January 5, 2025

The Lollipop Man

by Daniel Sellers

Pub Date:

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on Jan 05 2025

When young Sarah is taken, the locals feel it’s by the Lollipop Man who terrorised their town over ten years ago. Three children were taken and killed, with another that was lucky enough to escape. Several saw a Road crossing, Lollipop Man at the time of the abductions. Adrian is working for a local paper and starts to investigate Sarah’s disappearance, unbeknown to anyone else, Adrian has a insider’s knowledge of the previous abductions and is desperate to seek out the truth and Sarah’s whereabouts.
There are multiple layers to the plot and a twist that keeps you hooked. As a new author to me, this book will you leave you wanting to read more. An excellently executed thriller with first class writing.

Our Holiday

by Louise Candlish

Pub Date:

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on Jan 05 2025

After enjoying the author’s previous novels, the synopsis for the book was appealing, and the first part held promise with an interesting setup, but as the story progressed, it diverged into multiple scenarios and introduced numerous characters, none of whom I felt a strong connection with. While the slow-burn pacing can be appealing in some cases, I found this one to be excessively slow for my taste.

Cover Image: The Mistress

The Mistress

by Valerie Keogh

Pub Date:

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on Jan 05 2025

The plot is centred around two women, Hannah and Susan. Hannah is someone who always gets what she wants, she is current married to an older man who uncovers her deceit. She decides to move on to an old flame, Mark, the only trouble is, he is married - to Susan. Susan notes the change in Mark and discovers his affair. Susan contacts Hannah directly but gets caught up in her web.
I felt the lot a little thin and took a different return when you thought you knew what was really happening. Not the fastest paced book which it needed to be in order to retain my attention.