Thriller – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Avarice (A Hollywood Mystery #3)

Title: Avarice (A Hollywood Mystery #3)
Author: Britt Lind
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: Bublish
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 21, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Taking a long-awaited holiday in Pacific Beach, California, ex-cop, now prosecutor, Rosemaria Baker and her fiancé, singer-songwriter Josh Sibley are enjoying the sun and each other, anticipating a few days of focusing on the good things in life, but their vacation is interrupted by an attempt on Rosemaria’s life. The assassins escape while Rosemaria is hospitalized severely injured. The police cast a wide net and clues lead them to investigate suspects amongst the wealthy denizens of Beverly Hills, former roommates who lived in drug infested squalor in the worst part of Hollywood, and criminals Rosemaria helped convict. Working with her ex-homicide-detective father, and her former partners in the Beverly Hills Police Department, Rosemaria helps track down possible offenders who have fled California while all her instincts tell her that the person who wants her dead is much closer to home.

Review:

This is an intense thriller. I think it could be read as a stand-alone, even though it’s the third in the series. Most of the characters were new to this book, and there were some references to what happened in the past. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and some had similar names so that could get confusing at times. I enjoyed this thriller.

Avarice is a great thriller.

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: gun violence, death of parent (mentions), drug use (mentions)

Other books in the series:

Deception (A Hollywood Mystery #1)
Malevolence (A Hollywood Mystery #2)

Have you read Avarice? What did you think of it?

Review: Deception (A Hollywood Mystery #1)

Title: Deception (A Hollywood Mystery #1)
Author: Britt Lind
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Publisher: Bublish
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 12, 2020
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Blood and dreams run red through the magical land of Hollywood, and rarely do kind souls win the spoils of war…

Singer/songwriter Josh Sibley is handsome, talented, and smart, but he tries to appease his demons with alcohol in an effort to break free of his complicated past. When he gets the opportunity to write songs for a multi-million dollar feature film, he throws himself in head first, determined to shake his bad luck streak. Then he meets Lila Levy, the sexy singer/actress who is married to the producer of the movie. She attempts to use her sexuality to hook Josh into a secret love affair—but Josh surprises himself by keeping his feelings under wraps while trying to teach Lila to sing his songs.

But this is Hollywood, and dark souls are clothed in glamour and secrets. When Lila’s husband Stan is murdered, Lila disappears, leaving Josh to deal with the woman determined to track her down—Sergeant Rosemaria Baker of the Beverly Hills Police Department. Beautiful yet disenchanted with the glitz of Hollywood, Rosemaria considers Josh a delusional loser but he’s her best lead. Too bad Josh doesn’t know Lila in the way he thought he did. When the cops finally bring Lila in, she declares herself innocent and builds her case around disturbing childhood trauma that will twist Josh’s soul.

Review:

This was an intense thriller. I liked the Hollywood setting. Many of the characters were in show business. I liked that this story showed every part of the crime from before it happened to the trial afterwards. I’m curious to see how this series continues!

Deception is a suspenseful thriller.

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: death, gun violence, incest, adultery

Have you read Deception? What did you think of it?

Review: That Kind of Girl

Title: That Kind of Girl
Author: Natalie C. Anderson
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: June 24, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this gripping YA thriller perfect for fans of Jessica Goodman and Amber Smith, two girls from opposite worlds play a dangerous game of cat and mouse when a rich classmate is murdered and they’re both prime suspects. The race is on to find out which one is a killer.

Sixteen-year-old amateur sleuth Roxie is shrewd, nimble, cunning, and only a little bit damaged. She also has a real knack for finding things, making her the perfect go-to detective for her rich classmates at St. Margaret when they’re looking to retrieve the things they’ve “lost”— no questions asked. So when queen bee Kirsten Montgomery-Wiggins pays Roxie a hefty sum to track down a mysterious blonde who “stole” her phone, Roxie accepts. Although Kirsten is a bully and she and Roxie have bad blood between them, Roxie could really use the cash. But that same night, Roxie finds Kirsten murdered in her mansion, and police zero in on her as a prime suspect.

On the outskirts of town in a trailer park, Inez, a part-time maid and part-time sex-worker, keeps finding blood everywhere. Crusted in her earring, threaded into her shoelace. She should really toss her shoes so there’s nothing to tie her to the body, but these shoes cost her a few “favors” and several hours of cleaning houses. How could the night have gone so wrong? She really thought she was working her way to a better life, but now she could be headed to jail if the wrong someone puts two and two together.

Roxie doesn’t know who she’s looking for and Inez doesn’t know who she’s hiding from. But all roads seem to lead to Montgomery House, as Roxie works to clear her own name and Inez attempts to stay one step ahead of the law and the men who hurt her.

Review:

This was a thrilling and suspenseful story. The short chapters made this a quick read because I couldn’t put it down. There were a few mysteries that didn’t seem to be connected but they were interwoven by the end. There were also some tough subject matters, such as cults and the dangers of sex work.

That Kind of Girl is an intense and thrilling story!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for providing a copy of this book.

Content warnings: death of parent, murder, gun violence, sex work, sexual assault, drugging, cult

Have you read That Kind of Girl? What did you think of it?

Review: Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy

Title: Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy
Author: Christiano Maki
Genre: Thriller, Religious
Publisher: self-published
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: April 16, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

How far would you go to possess the unholy? In this supernatural thriller, the boundaries between men and monsters blur as power and greed collide with forces beyond comprehension. What begins as a pursuit of the world’s most precious relics spirals into a war between the ruthless elite and the dark prophets of Satan himself. With every step deeper into the unknown, ambition fuels destruction, and those who believe they control their own fate soon realize—they were never in control at all.

As the will of men clashes with the temptations of the abyss, the institutions that claim to lead us are exposed for what they truly pawns in a game older than time. Those who seek to harness evil for their own gain will learn a harrowing truth—no one steals from the Devil and lives to tell about it.

This is not just a story. It is a warning. One that will haunt you long after the final page.

Because believers believe.

Believers is a darkly atmospheric supernatural thriller. If you like ancient mysteries, epic battles between good and evil, and the search for forbidden knowledge, then you’ll love Christiano Maki’s immersive and haunting tale of faith, ambition, and deadly secrets.

Review:

This was an intense supernatural thriller. It explored ideas of religion, good versus evil, and greed. There were some chilling scenes that make this book perfect for spooky season. This is a book that you won’t soon forget!

Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy is a creepy thriller!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: possession, body horror

Have you read Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy? What did you think of it?

Review: The Artificial Conspiracy

Title: The Artificial Conspiracy
Author: Jesse Muehlbauer
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Allaire Publishing
Source: Author
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

New Year’s Eve in Times Square—an elusive secret society starts the countdown clock on humanity.

365 days until the end of time…

The chilling prediction haunts Mirai McGarry, a young woman who dreams of being a renowned artist even as multiple sclerosis begins to ravage her health.

In the midst of the chaos, a powerful doomsday cult emerges as a safe haven for the masses. Their allure is undeniable, unnatural, and for Mirai, devastatingly personal. Her efforts to thwart them are futile until a mysterious messenger provides the first insights into a dark conspiracy.

When Mirai opens the eyes of a handsome cult member, inspiring him to break free, he joins her odyssey to seek out the one man prophesied to end the madness. With the world around her—and her own body—beginning to crumble, Mirai must confront the mastermind of a nightmare before the countdown is complete.

The Artificial Conspiracy is a philosophical thriller that explores a wide panorama of human nature and challenges the assumptions of our oldest why do we suffer?

Review:

This book is a thrilling dystopian. There were so many twists throughout the story that kept me guessing until the end. The story began with multiple subplots but they were intricately woven to be connected to the main plot. I highly recommend this thriller!

The Artificial Conspiracy is a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com and Jesse Muehlbauer for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: cult, death, kidnapping, poisoning, multiple sclerosis, suicide

Have you read The Artificial Conspiracy? What did you think of it?

Review: Free to Be Me

Title: Free to Be Me
Author: J.D. Webb
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Tawnya Davitakov is ordered to either convince the KGB’s US money launderer to begin work again or eliminate him. In her nine-year career, no one has ever been nice to her. Not anyone in Russia, Europe, or the Middle East. In her first assignment in the US, everyone is nice.

Weary from her dangerous and stressful work, she decides to quit and become an American. It seems easy. Not so much.

She teams with an ex-fighter pilot to confront a Spetsnaz assault team, then travels to Russia one final time as an assassin.

Review:

This is an intense spy thriller. Tawnya is a former Russian spy who is on the run in the United States. She’s been through a lot in her career and personal life, and she has had to look out for herself. There were a lot of traumatic things that happened to Tawnya throughout her life so check the content warnings before reading!

Free to Be Me is a short and fast paced thriller!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: stalking, death of parents, death of child (mentions), stabbing, bombs, surgery, sterilization

Have you read Free to Be Me? What did you think of it?

Review: A Love to Die Kill For

Title: A Love to Die Kill For
Author: Stephen B. King
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: February 26, 2025
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Susan is diagnosed with a fatal skin disorder, her world collapses. Wracked with despair, she sits on the ledge of a Manhattan building, waiting to jump. Police negotiator Dave, driven by his own trauma, saves her life.

Pledging to help one another, Susan offers advice about Dave’s marriage, which is in shambles due to Lynne’s suspected infidelity. Dave helps Susan, who has always been beautiful, to understand that her life isn’t over while there is hope.

Dave discovers his wife is the victim of a controlling, obsessive, and insane man. Lynne, Dave, and Susan become close. But Dave and Lynne’s children are abducted, and Dave must confront a man who terrorizes innocent people to further his own obsession, including murder.

Review:

This story is an intriguing thriller. Dave had a dangerous job as a police negotiator. He had to negotiate with people who were suicidal. There were some unlikely events that almost seemed too convenient, like an amazing job offer right after losing a job and Dave having a connection to a specialist skin doctor when his new friend Susan had a rare skin condition. There were many potentially triggering events in this story so make sure to check the content warnings before reading.

A Love to Kill For is a suspenseful thriller!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com and The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: adultery, suicide, rape, death of pet, animal abuse, blackmail, burglary

Have you read A Love to Die Kill For? What did you think of it?

Review: The Woman in Cabin 10 (Lo Blacklock #1)

Title: The Woman in Cabin 10 (Lo Blacklock #1)
Author: Ruth Ware
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: Gallery
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 19, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong.

Review:

This is a suspenseful thriller! I finally read this one since the sequel just came out and a movie adaptation is coming out this fall. It definitely lived up to the hype. It is suspenseful and fast paced, especially the final chapters. I’m excited to read the sequel!

The Woman in Cabin 10 is a great thriller!

Content warnings: death, cancer, sexual assault, vomiting, kidnapping, gaslighting, drowning

Other books in the series:

The Woman in Suite 11

Have you read The Woman in Cabin 10? What did you think of it?

Pub Day Review: Difficult Girls

Title: Difficult Girls
Author: Veronica Bane
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 8, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A teen girl’s attempt at social reinvention takes a deadly turn when a co-worker disappears—and she learns she may have been the last person to see the missing girl—in this razor-sharp, murderously funny thriller debut.

After the incident last year, Greta Riley Green is looking for reinvention—a fresh start—and a job at Hyper Kid Magic Land, the local amusement park, seems like the perfect way to forge a new path . . . no matter what it takes.

So when fate pulls Greta into Mercy Goodwin’s orbit, it feels like things are looking up. Beautiful and confident, Mercy dazzles audiences daily. And at the first party of the summer, she picks Greta to confide in. Mercy has a secret to share, if Greta will just meet her the next day. It’s a sign that Greta’s truly fitting in.

Only, when the time comes, Mercy is a no-show—as she is everyday after that—and Greta knows something’s wrong. She can’t help thinking back to the night of the party. Did Mercy seem upset? Terrified, even? Could she be in trouble? It wouldn’t be the first time a talented young performer came to a sinister end at Hyper Kid. . . .

Of course, Greta has her own issues with the past, and the more she uncovers Hyper Kid’s secrets, the more her own threaten to surface. This job was meant to be a reboot, a summer without trouble. But trouble, it seems, finds Greta, and her past—and the bloody past of Hyper Kid—is about to catch up with her.

Review:

This was a creepy summer thriller. It had a great summer setting in a theme park. I liked that there was some suspense about what happened in Greta’s past. I couldn’t figure out the mystery of what happened to Mercy. There were some key clues that were held back until the end, but it was a satisfying ending!

Difficult Girls is a great summer thriller!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: divorce, bullying, murder, suicide, knife violence

Have you read Difficult Girls? What did you think of it?

Review: We Are Villains

Title: We Are Villains
Author: Kacen Callender
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: Henry N. Abrams
Source: Manda Group
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From bestselling and award-winning author Kacen Callendar comes a thrilling, dark academia YA about murder, blackmail, and the one person determined to discover the truth, no matter the cost

What happened to Arianna Reynolds?

Ari’s death was ruled an accident, but for her best friend Milo, it’s shrouded in mystery. Why was she in the woods on the night of the fire? Had she been alone? Figuring out what happened the night Ari died is the only reason Milo returns to Yates Academy, even knowing he’ll be in constant danger. . .

Liam is the King of Yates, a role he keeps hold of through his family’s old money—and the threat of violence. So when he begins receiving ominous letters from another student accusing him of murdering Ari, the suspect list is long. Desperate to prove his innocence before the accusation ruins his reign, Liam enlists Milo’s help to find the blackmailer. But the more Milo helps Liam, the more he becomes certain that Liam has something to hide.

As Milo comes closer to the truth, he uncovers secrets that everyone wants to keep buried . . . Featuring a cast of queer characters of color, We Are Villains is an electrifying mystery that will keep readers guessing.

Review:

This is a thrilling boarding school story. It followed multiple perspectives of different characters at school. I liked that Ari’s perspective was written in the second person, speaking directly to an unknown person who was important to her. The answer to what happened to Ari was revealed kind of early in the story, but it had a good ending!

We Are Villains is a great boarding school thriller!

Thank you Manda Group for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: sexual assault (off page), murder, fire (off page), bullying

Have you read We Are Villains? What did you think of it?