Tag Archives: suspense fiction

June Book Club Pick — The Bookshop of 99 Doors

1 Jun

How can it be June already?! This year is going so fast, and after checking my calendar, this summer looks like it will zoom past before I know it. But I always have time to read a good book. 😉 This month my book club is reading The Bookshop of 99 Doors — a bookshop and great gothic suspense from Jaime Jo Wright — it can’t get much better! Have you read it yet? We’d love to know your thoughts.

The manor’s rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate’s bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls. 

In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion’s bookshop with a troubled past.

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com.

Happy Release Day — Secrets Chase Her

19 May

Happy release day, Rachel Dylan! The second book in the Deadly Justice series, Secrets Chase Her, is now available! If you haven’t read Death Follows Her, be sure to get both books. You need to read them in order. And I promise that once you finish book 1, you will want book 2 on hand. Find out all about this thriller/suspense below.

A brutal murder. A deadly secret. A lawyer who won’t back down.

When high-powered attorney Quinn Kelly finds her protégé brutally murdered, she’s plunged into a nightmare—one that points directly to a ruthless serial killer. FBI Agent Samira Haddad takes over the case, but her complicated past with Quinn threatens to cloud the investigation.

Blackmailed by a powerful tech mogul who holds incriminating evidence against her, Quinn is forced to take on his defense to keep him silent. But she refuses to sit on the sidelines while Samira hunts the killer who took her friend’s life. Quinn’s search for answers uncovers a chilling truth: someone close to her is in the crosshairs—and she may be the reason why.

The killer is watching and lying in wait. With trust in short supply, both women must decide how far they’re willing to go for justice—and survival.

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for almost two decades, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and three furkids—one loveable Labrador and two senior cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers.

Top 10 Tuesday — Things Found in A Southern Garden

12 May

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT challenge is May Flowers. Since I’ve read only one book featuring Pilgrims 😉 , I decided to list books with titles that included things you could find in a southern garden, including things that have to be beaten back! I hope you find a book to catch your interest.

For more flowery lists, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books with Titles That Include Things You Could Find in A Southern Garden (whew! what a title!)

Already in The Kudzu by Hannah Hood Lucero

Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards

Dragonfly Ashes by C. C. Warrens

Firefly Diaries by C. C. Warrens

He Should Have Told The Bees by Amanda Cox

Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Under The Magnolias by T. I. Lowe

Walking in Tall Weeds by Robin W. Pearson

When The Wildflowers Bloom Again by Donna Jo Stone

Top 10 Tuesday — Book Longing

5 May

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is authors I wish were still writing. This could include those who have sadly passed away, those who for a variety of reasons are not writing, those who write in different genres now, or (I added this one) those who are writing, but haven’t published anything new in a while. This is a bittersweet post. My list does include two cozy mystery writers who have passed away. And I don’t know if or when any of the others will release in my preferred genre in the future. But . . . that’s what re-reading is for! I hope you find a book to love. And, if you have different info than me, please let me know!

For more bloggers longing for books, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Book Longing

Jo Dereske (cozy mystery)

Anne George* (cozy mystery)

Tracy Groot (general fiction/historical fiction)

Rene Gutteridge (contemporary fiction/suspense)

Kathy Herman (suspense)

Joan Hess* (cozy mystery)

Liz Curtis Higgs (still very active, just not in historical fiction)

Lisa Samson ( this author is still writing, but not women’s fiction)

Patricia Sprinkle (cozy mystery)

Catherine West (women’s fiction)

Top 10 Tuesday — The Time of Day!

28 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today is a Freebie day on TTT — anything our heart desires! Today I am featuring book titles containing times of day, some of which are more poetic than actual positions on a clock. I hope you find one you want to read no matter what time it is!

For more fun lists, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Titles Featuring A Time of Day

As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin

Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

As The Light Fades by Catherine West

Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips

First Line Friday — Secrets Chase Her

24 Apr

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring Secrets Chase Her, the second book in the Deadly Justice series by Rachel Dylan. The first book was super-twisty, with a cliffhanger at the end. I can’t wait to dive into this suspense/thriller! It releases on May 19, but you can pre-order your copy now. hint, hint

Here’s the first line:

Quinn Kelly looked at her smart watch again for the third time in five minutes.

A brutal murder. A deadly secret. A lawyer who won’t back down.

When high-powered attorney Quinn Kelly finds her protégé brutally murdered, she’s plunged into a nightmare—one that points directly to a ruthless serial killer. FBI Agent Samira Haddad takes over the case, but her complicated past with Quinn threatens to cloud the investigation.

Blackmailed by a powerful tech mogul who holds incriminating evidence against her, Quinn is forced to take on his defense to keep him silent. But she refuses to sit on the sidelines while Samira hunts the killer who took her friend’s life. Quinn’s search for answers uncovers a chilling truth: someone close to her is in the crosshairs—and she may be the reason why.

The killer is watching and lying in wait. With trust in short supply, both women must decide how far they’re willing to go for justice—and survival.

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for almost two decades, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and three furkids—one loveable Labrador and two senior cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers.

Top 10 Tuesday — Alter Ego!

14 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is book titles that describe me or my life. Uh, no! LOL! I read a lot of mystery/suspense and those titles can be seriously scary. And besides, I am a huge rule follower — just ask my husband, the man who never saw a rule that couldn’t in some fashion be broken. 😉 So I decided to flip the topic and go with titles that would describe my evil twin aka alter ego. This was a fun post to put together. I hope you enjoy it and find a great book to read.

For more insights into the real bloggers’ lives, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Titles That Describe My Alter Ego

If I was one to take on a life of crime, I would want to be thought of as a member of The Queens of Crime. In pursuit of the lofty title I’d travel to Scotland and perpetrate a Highland Heist. Not sure if that would include a few shaggy cows, but who knows what a thief could discover among the heather. I might Ambush a man in a kilt to help me carry all the loot, making sure I hide my identity and not let on An Appearance of Impropriety. I must maintain an air of integrity and not get caught! But if I’m found out and pursued by the coppers, I’ll make sure my crimes are well Hidden by a Canyon of Deceit so I am not forced into Taking A Second Shot to fend them off. A good criminal must be able To Outwit Them All! If I’m not successful, the authorities will say that Death Follows Her and I may be presumed Guilty Until Innocent .

Here’s a tip: the authors of these books are way better at telling tales than I am. Check out their fabulous books!

Top 10 Tuesday — New to My TBR

7 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today I just was not feeling the TTT topic — bucket list books. I have done a couple of these posts and didn’t really want to do the research on books and destinations, so instead I am sharing the latest additions to my NetGalley Shelf. A few of these have already released, so I need to get going on my reading. There is also a good mix of genres — I hope you find one to love.

To discover on topic bloggers, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top 10 Recent Additions to My NetGalley Shelf

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

Dark Design by Nancy Mehl

Daughter of The Rebellion by Jamie Ogle

Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen

Harbor Pointe by Irene Hannon

Mists over The Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin

More Than Friends by Denise Hunter

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow

Mini-Book Review — The Girl Upstairs

6 Apr

I love a twisty thriller, especially if it has an unreliable narrator! That kind of story keeps me on my toes. I found that and more in The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch. This book set in a picturesque secret-filled Maine coastal town was full of unexpected revelations, aha moments, and seriously creepy subject matter. (Content warnings: pregnancy loss and child abuse.) Gwen is the perfect character for the first person narration — fiercely devoted to finding justice, but broken in so many ways — she tells a compelling story as she seeks a new life with her doctor husband. Unfortunately, the house they move to will not let them achieve the peace they so dearly need. I could not put this haunted house novel down! While this story is told through a Christian worldview, the references are subtle. I especially liked the juxtaposition of crows and black-capped chickadees — you’ll know it when you see it. 😉 This book is for those who don’t mind a bit (or a lot) of creep-factor, like surprises around every corner, and love a very satisfying ending. I think this book is a good choice for a book club. Lots of things to discuss — Can justice be achieved in a broken world? Does growth come from pain? Can past trauma be redeemed?

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life.

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

Jessica R. Patch is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than thirty novels. Known for her pulse-pounding plots, emotionally charged characters, and signature twists, Jessica’s stories explore themes of justice, resilience, and the unshakable power of hope.

Whether weaving inspirational stories of danger edged with romance or crafting chilling thrillers that probe the shadows of the human heart, Jessica delivers fiction that thrills while shining light in the darkest places.

She makes her home in Northwest Mississippi, where she enjoys life with her family, a good cup of tea, and dreaming up her next edge-of-your-seat story usually over tacos and queso.

Spotlight on Thriller/Suspense Fiction — Special Target

1 Apr
Special Target JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Special Target by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Special Target

Title: Special Target
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: ‎ SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: March 26, 2026
Genre: Christian Suspense Thriller

She’s trying to save the boy’s life. What if he’s supposed to save hers?

For tough-as-nails Chicago social worker Ashley Sorenson, it’s nothing new to risk her life for hurting children. Seeing innocent kids suffer every day may have made her a little cynical, but she’ll stop at nothing to rescue children from miserable circumstances.

But Ashley faces a special challenge when Matthew Borden, a sixteen-year-old with Down syndrome, is orphaned. Finding a suitable foster home for the boy becomes the least of her problems when someone starts threatening her and Matthew.

The sudden appearance of a mysterious FBI agent confirms Ashley’s growing suspicions that Matthew is no ordinary teen. The boy she thought no one wanted is wanted by many…dead or alive.

Dodging danger at every turn, Ashley races to find the secrets that could save Matthew’s life. When the truth unearths her own dark past and threatens more than their lives, the God Matthew trusts may be her only hope for rescue.

A gripping and gritty standalone Christian suspense thriller from the bestselling author of the Guardians Unleashed Series.

Excerpt

“Was that your big plan?” She raised an eyebrow. “Make me an agent, and I’ll solve the case?”

“I’m serious. Though if you’re not interested, I don’t blame you. It can be dangerous work.”

“Seems like social work is, too.”

He breathed a laugh. “Yeah, I guess it does.” He set the phone on the table in front of him and met her gaze. “I know you don’t really like me. And I know you probably still don’t trust me. But whether you trust me or not, I’m going to have to trust you. We’re alone now, the three of us, and we’ll have to work as a team if we’re going to get Matthew out of this unharmed.”

She swallowed. “What do you mean, we’re alone? Doesn’t the FBI know where we are?”

“Not exactly.”

“You mean you’ve left, like…gone rogue?”

“Sort of.” The corner of his mouth twitched. He thought this was funny? “It’s complicated.”

“I’m smarter than I look.” She folded her arms in front of her.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

Wasted


About The Author

Jerusha Agen

Jerusha Agen is a Christy Award finalist who imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies. Find more of Jerusha’s thrilling, fear-fighting stories at JerushaAgen.com.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Special Target, a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card and a Special Target mug, notebook, and magnet!

Special Target blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 30, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 6, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours