Tag: thriller book

Reviews

The Housemaid Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on The Housemaid Review

*MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*

I finally picked up The Housemaid after hearing about it everywhere, and it definitely lived up to the hype. From the very first chapter I was hooked and found it hard to put down. The writing is simple but sharp, making it a quick read that almost feels like watching a thriller play out on screen. It starts off creepy and unsettling, with Nina acting more and more strangely, and then it ramps up into something much darker and far more dangerous.

Millie is such a fascinating character. At first, it’s hard to connect with her because we don’t know much about her, but as her backstory slowly unravels I became more invested. The mystery around her kept me intrigued, and by the time the big reveals landed I was fully on board. Nina’s truth was also a shock and while I didn’t agree with all of her choices, I found myself sympathising with her more than I expected. Andrew though… absolutely detestable.

The story itself isn’t the most original, but McFadden tells it in such an addictive way. The first two parts felt a bit predictable, but part three completely changed the game and left me stunned. The twists just kept coming and the ending was the kind that makes you want to pick up the sequel straight away. Sure, some moments stretched believability, but that almost added to the fun because it kept me guessing.

Overall, this is a wild, fast-paced thriller that delivers on tension and shock value. It’s eerie, outrageous in places, and ridiculously entertaining. If you’re after a bingeable read that will keep you second guessing every character, this is one to add to your list.

⭐️4/5 stars Definitely a guilty pleasure, pop corn thriller!

Reviews

Bury Your Gays Review

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Bury Your Gays follows Misha, a Hollywood writer who’s pressured by producers to kill off a queer character in the name of ratings. What unfolds is a mix of horror and satire as the villains from his own scripts step off the page and begin stalking him, blurring the line between art and reality.

I found this book original and bold, especially in how it critiques Hollywood’s treatment of queer stories and the wider issue of corporate greed in media. It tackles erasure, tokenism, AI ethics, and trauma, all while highlighting the power of friendship and love in all forms. Some of the monsters, particularly Mrs. Why, were genuinely creepy and surprisingly sad, while the flashbacks to Misha’s childhood gave depth and context to their creation.

That said, I did have mixed feelings. The pacing dragged in places and the chapter transitions sometimes left me feeling lost. The audiobook added to this with extra voices and sound effects that felt unnecessary. The Black Mirror-style AI angle also felt a little tired, and while the ending had some campy horror flair, it fizzled out and leaned heavy-handed.

Overall, I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. It’s clever, confronting, and very readable, and even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing, it adds something valuable to the conversation about queer representation in media.

⭐️3/5 stars In the end, it’s a bit messy but still worth the read.

Reviews

Bat Eater Review

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*A LITTLE SPOILERY*

After witnessing her sister’s tragic death, Cora Zeng works as a crime scene cleaner in New York’s Chinatown. Grieving, anxious and navigating the racism aimed at East Asian communities during the early days of COVID, she also finds herself haunted by ghosts as the Hungry Ghost Festival approaches. When a series of murders targeting East Asian women begins, strange bat carcasses appear at the scenes, drawing Cora into a chilling mystery.

The novel weaves together grief, cultural tradition, systemic injustice and elements of horror. Its examination of anti-Asian hate, institutional failings and the significance of the Hungry Ghost Festival is both engaging and thought-provoking. Cora is a layered, well-developed protagonist whose struggles with loss, fear of illness and cultural identity are deeply relatable. The insight into Chinese traditions adds richness to the story, grounding the supernatural elements in real-world beliefs and history.

However, the pacing is slow, with long stretches where nothing seems to happen and the serial killer subplot often feels secondary to the cultural and personal themes. While there are moments of unease and some graphic imagery, the horror leans more towards the grotesque than the frightening. The lack of a strong sense of place in New York can make the setting feel flat and the ending may frustrate readers as it leaves justice unresolved.

It’s an atmospheric and meaningful read that shines in its cultural depth and social commentary, even if its structure and pacing stop it from reaching its full potential.

⭐️2/5 Haunting and heartfelt, but not quite the killer read it could have been.

Reviews

Guillotine Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Guillotine Review

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Thrift fashionista Dez Lane doesn’t want to date Patrick Ruskin; she just wants to meet his mother, the editor-in-chief of Nouveau magazine. When he invites her to his family’s big Easter reunion at their lake retreat, she’s certain she can put up with his arrogance and fend off his advances long enough to ask Marie Caulfield-Ruskin for an internship someone with her pedigree could never nab through the regular submission route. When they arrive at the enormous mansion on an island in the center of a Georgia lake, Dez is floored―she’s never witnessed how the 1% lives before in all their ridiculous, unnecessary luxury. But once all the family members are on the island and the ferry has departed, shit gets real. For decades, the Ruskins have made their servants sign contracts that are basically indentured servitude, and with nothing to lose, the servants have decided their only route to freedom is to get rid of the Ruskins for good…

I absolutely loved the fact that Dez is just using Patrick to get to his mother and her feelings for him doesn’t change throughout the book, if anything she finds him more repugnant. It’s one thing to just have the thought of using Patrick but her commitment level and the lengths that she would go to just to get into the same room as Marie Ruskin was very entertaining to read. Having her being this morally gray character right from the start gave the book more chances to surprise us because we know that Dez is capable of pretty much anything.

I almost wish that I didn’t read the synopsis and was just surprised by what was going to happen because this was just so well done. Establishing from the start that Dez doesn’t belong to this world and how uncomfortable she already is and being unsure of how the staff are acting and not wanting to say anything because she has no precedent. Are they being super weird or is this just the norm for the uber rich? I also really enjoyed how much of a full circle plot this was despite being a shorter novel. I almost wish it was more of a fill length so we can learn more about Patrick’s family and not just finding out about them when they are about to die.

There are some truly shocking and gory moments and it didn’t shy away from describing all of the details. You really can’t help but wonder if this kind of thing is happening out there in the real world which is quite sad. I definitely found myself aligning with the staff and feel as though they are righting the wrongs this family has wrought on them throughout the years. The fact that these Ruskin men were so arrogant that they never seen this coming and got what they deserve really was the icing on the cake of this fantastic book!

⭐️4/5 stars I ate this up!