Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron

It took me about a week to finish this book and definitely worth a 5-star rating. Mick Herron has firmly earned a spot among my favorite authors. Reading his work is like binge-watching a high-end thriller series: sharp, layered, and full of tension you can feel in your bones.

The story opens with a bang—literally. An explosion tears through a quiet neighborhood, just a few hundred yards from where Sarah Tucker is having dinner with friends. The house belongs to Maddie Singleton and her family. In the chaos, two people die—Maddie and her war-veteran husband, Thomas. Only their daughter, Dinah, survives. But here’s where things get strange - Thomas, presumed dead for four years!

Sarah isn’t just curious—she’s obsessed. It begins as a flicker of concern for this girl. Sarah's imagination runs wild, and at first, she seems almost reckless. But as more people get pulled into the story and the danger escalates, I found myself completely hooked by the character's instincts and grit.

Dinah’s disappearance received no media coverage. She then approached a private detective agency and met Joe Silvermann, who later died under suspicious circumstances. Sarah was the last person to see him, which put her under suspicion. The incident seemed like a warning, and it looked as though she was being framed. Joe’s wife, Zoe Boehm, also believed that too.

Zoe's brief cameo didn't distract me at all. Herron layers the plot with espionage, betrayal, and a creeping sense of national stakes far bigger than one missing girl. What makes this book exceptional is Sarah’s journey, which is full of unexpected consequences. This is smart, high-stakes storytelling and I can't recommend it enough.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

I don’t usually read dark fantasy, but The Otherwhere Post pulled me in with its immersive world-building and powerful character development. From the very first page, I found myself rooting for Maeve Abenthy, an 18-year-old girl haunted by a past she didn’t choose and a legacy she never asked for.

For the last seven years, Maeve has lived in the shadows, always looking over her shoulder, changing names and cities to escape the stigma of being Jonathan Abenthy’s daughter, a disgraced scriptomancer accused of an unforgivable crime. But when a mysterious letter arrives seven years too late, everything changes.

The letter, sent by her father’s old friend, claims he was innocent. The truth might be buried in the heart of the Otherwhere Post, a secretive, magical courier service that trains apprentices in the dangerous art of scriptomancy. Every year, only a few make it through the grueling Program. And Maeve, desperate to uncover the truth, knows this is her only chance to access the sender and rewrite her father's legacy.

Disguised and determined, Maeve steps into a world where ink holds power, danger waits at every corner, and letters carry more than just words, truth, lies, and sometimes, salvation. Along the way, she encounters peril, betrayal, and unexpected friendships that slowly help her heal.

The Otherwhere Post isn’t just a fantasy tale. It's a story about identity, courage, and redemption. Even if you’re not a usual reader of dark fantasy, this one might surprise you.

The Goldens by Lauren Wilson

At eighteen, Chloe Hughes enters Dern University with dreams. Insecure, estranged from herself, and barely tolerating her flatmate, she drifts until she meets Clara Holland.

Clara, the picture-perfect social media influencer, is everything Chloe isn’t: glamorous, magnetic, effortlessly adored. She doesn’t just light up a room, she pulls the whole universe toward her. And somehow, Chloe is chosen. Swept into Clara’s glittering inner circle, she finds herself among beautiful and popular women. For once, Chloe feels wanted. 

But Clara’s charm curdles. She doesn’t want a best friend. She wants a follower. A worshipper. As the cracks begin to show, Chloe becomes entangled in something far darker than friendship. When her flatmate vanishes after one of Clara’s exclusive parties, rumors begin to spread.

Clara calls her followers the Goldens bound by aesthetic, loyalty, and carefully enforced rules. But the media paints them as something else: a cult disguised in glitter and girl power. 

4.5 ⭐.I docked half a star because I loathed Chloe. Not as poorly written, but as a person. Her passivity and blind devotion was infuriating. Strangely, I hated her more than Clara, which says a lot. But that’s also the author’s skill to create a believable and suspenseful narrative. Both Chloe and Clara are disturbingly complex and vividly real, one of the most compelling characters I’ve encountered this year.

The story unravels like a slow burn with psychological tension simmering just beneath the surface. It’s not fast-paced, yet I tore through it. Disturbing, timely, and eerily reflective of influencer culture.

Set to release in June 2025, this haunting, twist psychological thriller is one you won’t want to miss. Perfect for fans of toxic friendships, mind games, and stories between admiration and obsession.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

Surprise, surprise! I love it. This is the romcom I needed, and it kept a smile on my face through the pages until the end. The premise is quite cliché, but I still adore the chemistry between the characters.

The story revolves around Aiden Valentine, a radio DJ for "Heartstrings," Baltimore's romance hotline and the most popular late-night radio show. However, the ratings have been struggling, and he hasn't been able to engage a decent audience for months. Aiden is supposed to be giving love advice, but his short temper and jaded feelings about love have impacted the show. He’s fallen out of love with romance after being burned by too many lackluster calls. Clearly, something needs to change.

When Aiden receives a call from Maya Stone, who is discussing her mother Lucie's dull love life, having never seriously dated anyone, he sees an opportunity to help both of them as well as his show. Maya is hoping for some relationship advice, and their interview goes viral, which turns out to be a good thing for the radio station.

The show plans for Lucie to join Aiden on Heartstrings to seek out her happy ending. Although talking live on air might not be what she wants, she's willing to step out of her comfort zone to find the love she needs. Despite the hopeless candidates for her dates, Aiden can’t seem to get Lucie out of his head, pondering the realities of dating and the magic of love. There, I spoiled the review! 😂

Yes, it's a bit of a trope fest, but it's done so well. The character-driven plot kept me hooked, and even though it’s 400 pages, I flew through it. Fast-paced, sweet, hilarious, and heartwarming. I’m officially obsessed.

The Daughter by T. M. Logan

Evie Wingfield seemed like an average, bright, driven teenager, ambitious, curious, and focused on getting into law school. The university promised her the freedom she craved until she vanished. When her mother, Lauren, arrives to pick her up at the end of term, she's met with a chilling revelation: Evie quit the course months ago and never said a word.

With growing unease, Lauren and her son Lucas set out to uncover the truth. What starts as a mother’s desperate search spirals into a maze of secrets, lies, and buried truths that neither Lauren nor Evie is ready to face. Told through dual perspectives, the story starts off slow, drawing readers into the emotional depth of a fractured family before plunging headlong into a web of suspense halfway through.

As the mystery unravels, it becomes clear: the clues left behind aren’t just dangerous, but they’re explosive. And some truths may be better left buried. While the plot’s progression is straightforward and the character choices predictable, the power lies in the quiet, haunting way the consequences unfold. A subtle thriller that smolders before it burns.