Tag Archives: thriller

Top 10 Tuesday — Atmospheric Reads, Halloween Edition

28 Oct

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is a Halloween Freebie. Last week bloggers posted about cozy/atmospheric novels. I chose cozy with a follow-up of atmospheric books today. To fit with the Halloween theme I am defining atmospheric as a book setting that conjures up a feeling of mystery and intrigue, with a little bit (or a lot) of spooky thrown in. It’s always good to have at least one spooky read during October. 😉 I hope you find one that intrigues you.

For more Halloween-ish posts, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Atmospheric Reads

The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey

Man of Shadow And Mist by Michelle Griep

Of Gold And Shadows by Michelle Griep

On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert

Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard

Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert

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Book Review — Wicked Is The Hollow

16 Oct

I stepped way out of my reading comfort zone when I chose Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert. While I have read and enjoyed adult fiction written by this author (Katie Ganshert), I am not generally a YA reader. I do like a spooky, speculative book in October though, and this book sounded so intriguing. Find out my thoughts below.

A STRANGE TOWN. A SPRAWLING MANSION. A PERILOUS ROMANCE.

Ever since her mother vanished, Selah Whitlock has been drawn to the unexplained. So it feels almost fated to live in Foggy Hollow, a place where mystery abounds. Even more so when her father accepts a job at the Vandenberg estate, the epicenter of the town’s most infamous cold case.

Moving into the estate’s carriage house pulls Selah into the orbit of the Vandenberg cousins: Jude, the brooding heir with a tragic past, and Rafe, effortlessly charming and undeniably dangerous.

Then a centuries-old portrait surfaces bearing Selah’s exact likeness. Suddenly, she isn’t just chasing a mystery. She’s caught in the heart of one. As the town prepares to celebrate its bicentennial, Selah and Jude are pulled into a secret that spans generations. Something sinister is stirring beneath the golden leaves and carved pumpkins. And the deeper they fall, the deadlier the consequences.

K.E. Ganshert writes romantic speculative fiction filled with high stakes, big emotions, and exciting twists. Her stories feature heroines with gifts they don’t fully understand, emotionally guarded heroes who fall hard for the girl, and dangerous worlds that aren’t quite what they seem. Perfect for readers who want to escape into supernatural, dystopian, or fantasy tales—where the romance runs deep, but never explicit.

When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming up new story ideas, playing a competitive game of pickleball, cheering on the Indiana Fever, or spending time with her family in the Midwest.

My Impressions:

While I have read adult novels by K. E. Ganshert (writing as Katie Ganshert), I have never read any of her YA offerings. At sixty-something, I am definitely not her target audience. 😉 But there was something so intriguing about the description of Wicked Is The Hollow, that I gave it a chance. This book is a speculative (paranormal)/romance/thriller with all the great spooky October vibes. I really liked it! The story centers on Selah, a high schooler with baggage from a missing mother and a penchant for all things uncanny and weird. Living in Fog Hollow, WV helps keep her interests piqued, and she and her best friend Twig are on the case of all the mysterious happenings of their home town. But they get a lot more than they bargained for when the Vandenberg family returns. This novel will keep its readers on their toes while making their fingers turn the pages furiously. The ebook is 500+ pages, but is a surprisingly fast read. I loved all the twists and turns! I also loved that this clean romance is never morally ambiguous. The bad guys are truly bad, and for those looking for truth, evil never is attractive. Do some fall for the temptations? Sure, but that is real life. For a fun reading experience, grab a YA friend or loved-one for a buddy-read. This novel will make you want to talk!

Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: YA (16 year old-ish+) and adults.

(I borrowed this book from KU. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Top 10 Tuesday — Long Book Series

7 Oct

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT is all about favorite book series, and I am specifically focusing on series that are longer than the standard 3 books. Some have concluded, which gives you a great reason to binge read, and others are still on going, so you better catch up! All are great in my opinion. I have included a variety of genres so that you can find the perfect book for you.

For more fabulous book series, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Book Series with Lots of Books!

Daughters of The Mayflower series by various authors (12 books)

Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon (12 and counting!)

Hugh De Singleton’s Chronicles by Mel Starr (17 and counting!)

The O’Malley series by Dee Henderson (6 books)

Psalm 23 Mysteries series by Debbie Viguie (21 books)

Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer (6 and counting)

True Colors series by various authors (11 books)

True Crime Junkies series by Christy Barritt (10 books)

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Spotlight on End Times Thriller — Vanished

21 Jul

I am so pleased to feature the new end times thriller, Vanished, from Dr. David Jeremiah. Read all about it below and enjoy the excerpt.

Vanished

Author: Dr. David Jeremiah (with Sam O’Neal)

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication date: July 1, 2025

The end of the world . . .

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, John “Haggs” Haggerty has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture–including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense.

Meanwhile, his own world feels like it’s falling apart. He’s still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he’s trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be.

Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption.

Excerpt

“I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to hear what we’ve heard today without coming to the conclusion that our world is in trouble. I don’t mean our culture. I don’t mean our way of life. I mean our civilization. We are currently experiencing something unprecedented not only in our lifetimes, but seemingly in human history. An extraordinary rise in seismic activity, catastrophic storms, and flooding. An extraordinary increase in regional epidemics and global pandemics. An extraordinary surge in famines and food insecurity across multiple continents. And an extraordinary flood of refugees seeking shelter and finding none.

“There is no doubt that many of these crises can be seen as the avoidable consequences of our own actions as a civilization.” She glanced over at Singh, then away. “But there is also little doubt in my mind that we are facing calamity at a scale we have never before considered. Ladies and gentlemen . . .” She paused as she scanned the room. “I am not exaggerating when I say the world is in danger. Humanity is in danger. But I am also not exaggerating when I declare that those of us in this room are equipped to meet that calamity head-on—and to steer our world to victory.

“We’re at a tipping point, and I believe the actions taken by our five task forces over the next twelve months will determine whether humanity advances to our destiny—or retreats into oblivion. So, let’s go save the world.”

About The Author

Dr. David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point, an international ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching through radio and television, the Internet, live events, and resource materials and books. He is the author of more than fifty books, including The Book of Signs, The Great Disappearance, Where Do We Go from Here? and The Coming Golden Age.

Dr. Jeremiah serves as the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He and his wife, Donna, have four children and twelve grandchildren.

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Top 10 Tuesday — Books That Deserve A Re-Read

8 Jul

This week the TTT theme has another throwback vibe — books that deserve a re-read. It is rare that I re-read a book — there are just so many other books vying for attention! Last week I shared my favorites from July 2015, so I thought I would pick those from the whole summer of 2015 that would be great to read again. 10 years is a long time in the reading world, so many of the books would be fresh again. I hope you find one to re-read or read for the first time!

For more books that need a second look, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

Center of Gravity by Laura McNeill

A Cry from The Dust by Carrie Stuart Parks

Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor

Pearl in The Sand by Tessa Afshar

Secrets of A Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer

Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin

Waiting for Sunrise by Eva Marie Everson

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First Line Friday — Vanished

4 Jul

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring the first line of Vanished, the end times thriller by Dr. David Jeremiah. This book looks to be a page-turner!

Here’s the first line:

“It’s gotta be here somewhere.”

The end of the world . . .

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, John “Haggs” Haggerty has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture–including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense.

Meanwhile, his own world feels like it’s falling apart. He’s still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he’s trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be.

Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption.

Dr. David Jeremiah serves as senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He is the founder and host of Turning Point, a ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching relevant to today’s changing times through radio and television, the Internet, live events, and resource materials and books. A bestselling author, Dr. Jeremiah has written more than forty books, including Agents of Babylon, Agents of the Apocalypse, Captured by Grace, Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World, What in the World Is Going On?, The Coming Economic Armageddon, God Loves You: He Always Has—He Always Will, and What Are You Afraid Of?. Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment to teaching the complete Word of God continues to make him a sought-after speaker and writer. His passion for reaching the lost and encouraging believers in their faith is demonstrated through his faithful communication of biblical truths. A dedicated family man, Dr. Jeremiah and his wife, Donna, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren. Connect with Dr. Jeremiah on Facebook (@drdavidjeremiah), Twitter (@davidjeremiah), and on his website (davidjeremiah.org).

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Spotlight on Suspense/Romantic Thriller — Echoes of Darkness

23 Jun

Echos of Darkness JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Echoes of Darkness

Title: Echoes of Darkness
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: June 24, 2025
Genre: Christian Suspense/Romantic Thriller

A serial killer stalks a small town, and a police officer must face her family’s dark past to catch him.

The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. But why here and why now?

Caleb Greene of the Canadian Watchers Squad, a special task force, has his own reasons to be wary of working alongside Oaklynn. But with rumors of a local cult known as the Light Paragons gaining power, the stakes are too high to refuse.

As they explore connections between the killings and cult, Oaklynn and Caleb are forced to confront old secrets…and a terrifying new threat. Someone is watching Oaklynn’s every move. They know exactly who she is and what she might be capable of. And soon her biggest fear isn’t just having her past exposed, but that a killer will turn whatever days she has left into a living nightmare…

Excerpt

Her mind recalled the last Christmas Eve she’d spent with her mother. They had gone to a candlelight service, and they sang “Silent Night” as the pastor lit a candle. Then lit the woman’s candle beside him, and she lit the next person’s. The process continued and one by one, the single flames turned the total darkness into an explosion of light.

Was He telling her she was that single light? And her light would extinguish the evil?

Something her aunt said during her father’s trial, after Oaklynn had confessed her fears, came to mind.

God will meet you in the darkest corner and provide the light for you to escape. You just have to let Him in.

Tears flowed like a waterfall, running along both sides of her neck.

Yes, it was time.

Time to surrender to the One she’d been fighting all these years.

Not her father. Not the copycat. Not herself.

God.



PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

K-9 Ranch Protection

About The Author

Darlene L. Turner

Darlene L. Turner is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

Tour Giveaway

(4) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card!

Echoes of Darkness JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 23, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 30, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. 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

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Top 10 Tuesday — Changes

13 May

Happy Tuesday! Today in TTT bloggers are talking about the changes their blogs have undergone since they began. Can you believe I have been blogging for 15 years?! I missed this milestone anniversary last November; I probably need to do something about that. 😉 My blog has changed in a lot of ways, but in basics it has stayed the same.

For more changes in blogging, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Changes in My Blogging/Reading

I still review mostly CF and clean fiction. Nowadays I rarely review non-fiction.

I have cut way back on the number of books I review. I started blogging when my kids were at home, I was working part time, and my husband was working full time. Now we are empty nesters, I’m retired, and my husband is semi-retired. More time means less time for the blog.

I am reading less too. It seems weird that having more free time translates to less reading, but in my case it does, since I have more opportunity for other pursuits.

I am reading what I like. In the early years of blogging I took any and all books publishers were willing to send me. Now I am more choosy.

I read almost exclusively on my Kindle. It’s easy and portable. I never thought this would happen, but it also allows me access to more books, especially through NetGalley.

While I have contemplated phasing out my blog, I am still really attached to the book blog community. I love engaging with other readers and reviewers from all over the world. Who knows how long my blog will go on . . .

Because I can’t stand not referencing books in the TTT posts, here are a few books I have read recently. I am still an eclectic reader! I love reading my go-to authors books and discovering new authors.

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If You Liked — Cold Dark Night

30 Apr

If you liked the dark, twisting suspense/thriller Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips (or really didn’t like my book club 😉 ), then I have a couple of recommendations for you. These books are creepy, twisting, and have seriously bad bad guys. I read them with the lights off too. 😉 They all feature FBI agents — think Criminal Minds.

All of the Steven James’ Patrick Bowers series. Start with The Pawn.

Special Agent Patrick Bowers had only met one man who made him truly afraid. Until now. When he’s called to North Carolina to consult on the case of an area serial killer, he finds himself in a deadly game. Cunning and lethal, the killer is always one step ahead of the law, and he’s about to strike again. 
It will take all of Bowers’s instincts and training to stop this man who calls himself the Illusionist. And just when the pieces start to come together, Bowers realizes they’re not quite adding up. Can he unravel the pattern and save the next victim? Or will the Illusionist win the game by taking one of his opponent’s pieces? 
Thrilling, chilling, and impossible to put down, The Pawn will hold suspense lovers in its iron grip until the very last page.

All of Nancy Mehl’s books. I particularly liked her Kaeli Quinn Profiler series.

Kaely Quinn’s talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she’s demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, the reporter’s ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem’s predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis. 

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else–including Kaely herself–is killed.

Tom Threadgill’s Jeremy Winter series

Catherine Mae Blackston has vanished without a trace. She is not the first.

FBI Agent Jeremy Winter’s investigation into Blackston’s disappearance uncovers a disturbing pattern: a string of missing persons, all linked to state parks. His superiors dismiss it as another case of a lost hiker, but Winter knows better. Defying orders, he teams up with a determined local officer to dig deeper.

As chilling clues surface, so does a sinister figure from Winter’s past—someone with the power to destroy his career. Now faced with an impossible ultimatum, Winter must keep his girlfriend, fellow agent Maggie Keeley, out of a dangerous political web. But the clock is ticking, and as the body count rises, the trail leads to an unexpected and terrifying suspect.

The missing are out there.

And Jeremy Winter must find them—before his own demons close in.

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Mini-Book Review — Cold Dead Night

28 Apr

My book club chose Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips as our April selection. Phillips was a new-to-us author for many in the group. We love suspense, but got a bit more than we wanted in this dark and twisting thriller. Many thought the images were disturbing and chose to read only in daylight hours. 😉 This aside, we found a lot of the storyline hard to believe, so that hindered our reading experience. While this book was a no for us, not every book is for everybody. We obviously, were not the target audience. But we did all finish it — we really wanted to know who was behind all the mayhem. I urge you to check it out for yourself. Phillips is a very popular author (one in our group has read numerous books by her and loved them), and Cold Dead Night has overall positive reviews.

Audience: Adults.

(I borrowed the ebook through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The FBI betrayed her. Now they need her.

Private Investigator Kenna Banbury lost everything two years ago at the hands of a serial killer. From the ashes of that encounter, she’s built a life she believes in, searching for the lost and forgotten all over the western US.

Bringing her own brand of justice.

When a series of murders drags her into an FBI investigation, Kenna finds herself back in the place where it all went wrong. Struggling to make sense of the case, Kenna’s past and present collide in a deadly plot that risks another betrayal and threatens to shatter everything she’s built.

Kenna faces the darkest part of her past in this first book of a brand-new series from Lisa Phillips.

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