Thrilling Reads

Want to read a book that takes you on for a scary ride? Well, I’ve got two that you might want to make note of.

sharpobjects.jpgFirst up is Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. This Edgar nominated novel is disturbing, has some crazy twists and turns but best of all, has some very sharp writing. The main character is a newspaper reporter investigating the murders of two little girls. She’s had a difficult childhood and isn’t relishing the thought of going back to her hometown but she’ll do it. Oh yes, and she’s a cutter. Here’s a bit on that:

“Getting out of the bath and seeing, out of the corner of my eye, down the side of a leg: babydoll. Pulling on a sweater and, in a flash of my wrist: harmful. Why these words? Thousands of hours of therapy have yielded a few ideas from the good doctors. They are often feminine, in a Dick and Jane, pink vs. puppy dog tails sort of way. Or they’re flat-out negative. Number of synonyms for anxious carved in my skin: eleven. The one thing I know for sure is that at the time, it was crucial to see these letters on me, and not just see them, but feel them. Burning on my left hip: petticoat.”

I admit I didn’t like the ending too much but that is just me. I sort of wanted the ending to go in a different direction. Still a great book and I’d love to see what the writer comes up with next.

shadowman.jpgThe other thriller I’ve recently read was Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen. I think I originally heard about this book via Les. The story is about Special Agent Smoky Barrett who was once one of the best FBI profilers but after a madman killed her husband and daughter she’s been on the verge of a breakdown. Until now, when another serial killer is challenging her to get him.

This is one fast-paced thriller. I was actually surprised though by how well the author was still able to take you into the thought process Smoky goes through as she makes her come back. However, there was one thing that bothered me quite a bit. There is one character who keeps calling everyone “honey-love”. I could get behind that the first few times but it got old very quickly. Oh and despite the thrill ride, I guessed who the killer was very early on in the book. That’s not terrible as sometimes it just happens that way but I would have liked to have been thrown off a little bit.

Would I read another though? Sure. Next time I’m in the mood for a thriller.

What’s my current mystery read? Booked to Die by John Dunning. This is the first in a series featuring a homicide detective who is quite a booklover. In this story, a book scout is dead. Why was he murdered? Was it over a precious manuscript? Can’t wait to see what happens.

So gotta a good thriller to recommend? Let me know and I’ll add it to my list.

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