Thriller

Seconds to Spare

by Rachel Reiss

coming May 12, 2026

(4.5 / 5)

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of Seconds to Spare! All opinions are completely my own.

Imagine you’re on a plane, flying over the Pacific Ocean, when the unthinkable happens… the plane goes into a freefall. Then imagine being stuck in a 28 minute time loop, repeating this scenario over and over hundreds of times. In Seconds to Spare, this is reality for Evelyn.

I really liked this book! As you can imagine from the description, this it’s packed with a range of emotions, from desperation and confusion to pure adrenaline. The descriptive nature of the book kept it very immersive, right down to the sounds you could hear in the background. Despite the 28 minute time loop, I was impressed that the story didn’t feel super repetitive. At first we’re getting snapshots from various loops that Evelyn experiences, with different conversions or actions. Then another character, Rion, wakes up for the first time and we start to experience more consecutive, full loops, but by then things actually started to feel more linear despite the key events that repeat each loop. There were a lot of side characters since we meet many of the other passengers on the plane, but I was able to keep track of the important ones without much effort. I liked Evelyn and Rion and seeing how they both evolve and grow over the course of this crazy scenario. I couldn’t help but root for them to survive and find a way to break the loop. I thought their emotions were portrayed very well in a way that made me feel like I was experiencing them. This book was a wild ride for sure, and I look forward to seeing more from the author in the future!

Paradox

Cash & Colcord #2

by Douglas Preston & Aletheia Preston

coming April 21, 2026

(3 / 5)

I want to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the free audiobook of Paradox. All opinions in my review are completely my own.

I was excited to read this book since I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Extinction, but I ended up being a bit underwhelmed. Paradox is following some of the same main characters from Extinction, but I thought the feel of this book was very different and didn’t appeal to me as much. Even the characters felt different from how they previously were, and almost all the characters were unlikable. The plot didn’t tie in too much to what happened in the first book, though there are enough references that might be confusing if you haven’t read it. Through this book there were so many characters and storylines that I started to lose track of what was going on, then my mind would wander and I’d lose interest. It also seemed to focus heavily on police procedure, with suspect interviews, investigation, autopsies, and even some legal proceedings, more than I would have preferred. The plot went into some directions I wasn’t expecting, with alien conspiracies and a lot of ties to religion and Catholicism. Some things that happened toward the end just felt weird and not explained well. As far as the crimes, I thought I knew for sure who was behind everything, but I ended up being surprised. I guess you could say it at least wasn’t predictable.

I read the audiobook version of the book, and I really liked the narrator. Characters had different voices and some even had accents. I thought the pacing was great too.

March 18, 2026 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Mystery Thriller 0

The Escape Game

by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

coming April 7, 2026

(5 / 5)

I want to thank Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of The Escape Game! All opinions are completely my own.

The Escape Game was one of my most anticipated reads for 2026, so I was beyond excited to receive an ARC copy of the book. Marissa Meyer has been a favorite author of mine, and this book just sounded so interesting… escape rooms, reality TV, and a murder mystery? Plus a gorgeous cover? Yes please!

I went into this book with high expectations, and I’m happy to say that it did not disappoint. The writing kept me hooked, engaged, and constantly wanting to read more to see what would happen next. It was fast-paced, exciting, and just fun to read. A lot of the characters were quirky, and I felt like I could relate to each of the main characters in one way or another. The plot felt like it had good depth to it. I loved the idea of an escape room themed reality show, and it’s the type of thing I’d love to watch. It really had an escape room feel to it with great descriptions. Usually I didn’t have enough information to try to solve the puzzles myself, but it was fun to predict how the characters should approach it. The murder mystery and other mysteries in the story were pretty complicated. I was able to figure some of the things out, though sometimes not long before they were revealed. Others really kept me guessing and ended up surprising me. There’s plenty of clues along the way, but even then I was constantly second guessing. By the end the story feels pretty well wrapped up while still building anticipation for the next book. I can’t wait!

March 4, 2026 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Mystery Thriller Young Adult 0

Out of Air

by Rachel Reiss

coming May 13, 2025

(3.5 / 5)

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Out of Air! All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and voluntary.

Five scuba diving friends make a huge discovery while on a trip to Australia, but maybe some things are best left alone.

Out of Air brings us to the underwater world of scuba diving, which was captivating and different. There were some great descriptions of the diving experience and the sea life the characters encountered. The book had an eerie and mysterious atmosphere to it that also took on more of a horror feel as the story progressed. We’re actually following 2 different points in time: present day where the group discovers an underwater cave, and about 6 months prior when they made a different discovery. It was interesting how it all interconnected. I did sometimes feel like the main character, Phoebe, didn’t react to certain things in a way that matched the circumstances, which felt a bit off to me. The horror elements weren’t something I enjoyed a ton, but admittedly it’s not a genre I usually read. I felt like a lot of the questions I had weren’t answered by the end, though I suppose that adds to the intrigue and mystery of it all.

April 5, 2025 by danimae1981 Fiction Horror Kindle Thriller Young Adult 0

Worst Case Scenario

By T. J. Newman

Narrated by Joe Morton

Released today!

(5 / 5)

A passenger jet pilot has a heart attack during a flight. The plane crashes, and to make things a lot worse, it hits a nuclear power plant. This book truly is a Worst Case Scenario.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of Worst Case Scenario, and I thought it only made the book better. There were some really nice touches, such as voices over the radio, that made the experience all the more immersive. If you can read the audiobook version, I highly recommend it!

This book turned out to be as intense, thrilling, and heartbreaking as the title suggests. We follow a number of different characters, from schoolteachers to first responders to the president of the United States, so we see how the events of the story unfold from many angles. It was well-done though, so it didn’t feel confusing or jarring. So many of the characters were really likable, with complicated backstories and values that are tested over and over. The descriptions throughout the book were great, and the explanations of a nuclear disaster with the resulting trickle effects was explained well. This isn’t going to be a book for someone who might find the theme upsetting, as it had a tone reminiscent of 9/11, but if you’re looking for a good thriller, this book definitely fits the bill.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Worst Case Scenario! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

August 13, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Thriller 0

Under the Surface

By Diana Urban

Coming August 13, 2024

(4 / 5)

A group of students are on a class trip in Paris, an experience Ruby has been looking forward to, especially since she wants to get some new content for her travel-themed YouTube channel. When her best friend, Val, leaves the hotel to go to a late-night party with a local boy, Ruby and two other classmates go after her, and all of them end up lost in the catacombs beneath the city. Meanwhile, Ruby’s friend/crush, Sean, tries to put together the pieces to figure out what happened to the missing girls.

First off, the setting of the majority of this book, the catacombs under Paris, was intriguing and really gave the book a creepy vibe. Between being lost in the tunnels full of human bones, then discovering something even more sinister along the way, it made for a good thriller. There’s fear, action, despair, and a lot of introspection for the characters as they navigate their situation. Being a young adult book, there was some teenage drama, but it also led to some of the suspense as we waited for their secrets to be revealed amidst the secrets that the catacombs held. Though I did suspect some things before they were revealed, the book managed to also take some unexpected turns to keep me engaged. I thought that Ruby was a likeable main character who grew and learned a lot about herself over the course of the story. We don’t get to see as much from Sean’s perspective, but I liked how his point of view portrayed the search for the girls while giving his character room to grow as well. The book in general felt very readable, with great descriptions that painted a vivid picture.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the free copy of Under the Surface! The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

May 19, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Thriller Young Adult 0

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

By Catherine Mack

(3.5 / 5)

On a book tour in Italy, Eleanor is planning her next book in her popular book series. She’s hoping to end the series by killing off one of the main characters, who is based on her ex, Connor, and happens to also be on the tour. But it appears that someone on the tour is trying to kill Connor for real…

This book is written in the format of Eleanor’s personal account of the events that happened. Honestly, I never completely felt a connection to her character, she just felt a bit scattered and unreliable. Part of her “style” was the use of numerous footnotes (over 200 over the course of the book). While they provided insight and some of the “real dirt” in the story, I found them a bit distracting and kept losing my spot. Things felt a bit slow in the beginning, and I think I ended up missing some of the clues to what was really going on along the way. There’s several “suspect” characters, so it could get hard to keep track of everyone’s details, and most of the characters weren’t particularly likeable. The actual solution to the mystery was something I had considered multiple aspects of along the way, but the story was twisty enough that I was never quite sure which of my theories was right until it was finally revealed. I enjoyed the various settings around Italy, so it had the feel of a vacation mystery.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the free review copy of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies. All opinions in my review are completely my own.

April 20, 2024 by danimae1981 eBook Fiction Mystery Thriller 0

Extinction

By Douglas Preston

Coming soon on April 23, 2024

(4.5 / 5)

At a resort in the mountains of Colorado, multiple prehistoric animals have been de-extincted. When a newlywed couple on their honeymoon go missing while camping at the resort, law enforcement is brought in to investigate.

Extinction is the first book I’ve read by Douglas Preston, but it definitely left me wanting to read more by the author. The story was complicated and told from the perspectives of several characters, so we could see it develop from multiple angles. I really loved all the descriptions of the scenes and characters, bringing the story to life. The book takes some really wild turns along the way and was full of action, excitement and mystery. While it mostly follows law enforcement and at its core is a crime thriller, the scientific premise of de-extinction was interesting and something that could be a reality in the near future.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group | Forge Books and NetGalley for the free review copy of Extinction! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

April 11, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Mystery Thriller 0

Icon and Inferno

By Marie Lu

Coming June 11, 2024

(4 / 5)

Icon and Inferno is the 2nd book in the Stars and Smoke series. Pop superstar-turned-spy Winter Young and agent Sydney Cossette team back up a year later for another mission for the Panacea Group, this time in Singapore.

Icon and Inferno had a similar feel to the first book, with action, mystery, romance and thrills. I read the books together, but enough background information is given catch you up if it’s been a bit. Once again, I enjoyed the complicated relationship between Winter and Sydney, and the addition of their exes added extra tension. There are surprises along the way, though I’ll admit to having my suspicions about some of the things that happened beforehand. There’s a lot of action, and while sometimes it feels a little unrealistic, it gives it the kind of excitement you feel while watching a movie. It was definitely a quick read that was hard to put down. I’m not sure if there will be another book in this series, but I’d love to read more by the author, Marie Lu.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for the free review copy of Icon and Inferno! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

April 3, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Mystery Romance Thriller Young Adult 0

Stars and Smoke

By Marie Lu

Paperback edition releases tomorrow!

(4 / 5)

19-year-old Winter Young is a huge global pop star, but he still yearns for something more in his life. Unexpectedly, he is approached by a secret agency with a mission to get intel on a crime boss while performing at a private birthday concert. He is paired with Sydney Cossette, a young but effective recruit of the agency.

I had the opportunity to get an early copy of the new paperback edition of Stars and Smoke, which includes new artwork and a bonus scene. Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and BookishFirst; all opinions in my review are solely my own.

I really enjoyed reading Stars and Smoke. I thought both of the main characters were interesting and felt relatable in their own ways, with complicated pasts. The banter between Winter and Sydney was fun and I enjoyed the development of their relationship along the way. The “pop star turned spy” concept was interesting and done well. There was a lot of action, and parts of the story even had a cinematic feel to them. I was expecting some kind of twist along the way and thought I had it all figured out, but it turns out the book was still able to provide surprises. This was one of those books where, once I started getting close to the end, I couldn’t put it down. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and reading more by this author!

I received a free review copy of the book. All opinions are completely my own.