Devi Nair
š±š Read on Kindle š 368 pages ā± Read time: ~5 hours Read as an ARC (thank you, NetGalley!) š·ļø Publisher: Minotaur Books š Publishing on: February 24, 2026
I need everyone to sit down for a second because THIS IS A DEBUT? Rebecca Philipson just strolled in and drop-kicked the thriller genre with a concept so clever I had to check the cover twice to make sure it wasn't secretly written by Lisa Jewell or Anthony Horowitz. The novel-within-a-novel structure is so bold, so cleanly executed, and so addictive that I had to remind myself that this wasn't written by a thriller veteren flexing on the rest of us. The aesthetic is gritty, clever, and unsettling in the best "I need tea, a blanket, and possibly a high-end security system" kind of way.
DI Samantha Hansen feels heartbreakingly real, her trauma seeps through the pages and adds a raw, human texture to the otherwise tense investigation. The dual narrative is catnip as we bounce between Sam's gritty police investigation and the chillingly calm chapters of Denver Brady's "how-to" manuscript. Everytime you flip to one of Brady's chapters, it feels like walking in the mind of a smiling psychopath who's handing you a scalpel and saying "helpful tips."
Yes, it is dark. We're talking descriptive murder scenes and a past rape mention (thankfully off-page but still heavy). If you're sensitive to those triggers, proceed with care. This is darker than my usual cozy-leaning tastes. But the narrative is so meticulous and the pacing is so tight, that even my gentler palate surrendered with a stunned admiration. This storyline isn't just unique. It's ambitious, audacious, and executed with eerie precision.
Folks, clear your schedules, because once those pages start turning, you're not putting this down until someone tries to pry it from your hands. But then, they better watch out! Because you are learning from a killer who almost never got caught!!!
Would I Recommend it? Would I wish joy in your life? Would I wish for you to experience the best reading material? Then you have the answer to this question Pre-order it! Mark 24 Feb 2026 in red! Fight your friends for the ARC! Whatever it takes! This debut deserves to explode.
Let's discuss the Killer Instinct Have you ever read a thriller that dared to write its murderer inside the story? Would you pick up a fictional "how to" crime manual as a part of a mystery plot, or would it freak you out too much? Tell me your thoughts, my detective friends!
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.
š±š Read on Kindle š 368 pages ā± Read time: ~5 hours Read as an ARC (thank you, NetGalley!) š·ļø Publisher: Minotaur Books š Publishing on: February 24, 2026
I need everyone to sit down for a second because THIS IS A DEBUT? Rebecca Philipson just strolled in and drop-kicked the thriller genre with a concept so clever I had to check the cover twice to make sure it wasn't secretly written by Lisa Jewell or Anthony Horowitz. The novel-within-a-novel structure is so bold, so cleanly executed, and so addictive that I had to remind myself that this wasn't written by a thriller veteren flexing on the rest of us. The aesthetic is gritty, clever, and unsettling in the best "I need tea, a blanket, and possibly a high-end security system" kind of way.
DI Samantha Hansen feels heartbreakingly real, her trauma seeps through the pages and adds a raw, human texture to the otherwise tense investigation. The dual narrative is catnip as we bounce between Sam's gritty police investigation and the chillingly calm chapters of Denver Brady's "how-to" manuscript. Everytime you flip to one of Brady's chapters, it feels like walking in the mind of a smiling psychopath who's handing you a scalpel and saying "helpful tips."
Yes, it is dark. We're talking descriptive murder scenes and a past rape mention (thankfully off-page but still heavy). If you're sensitive to those triggers, proceed with care. This is darker than my usual cozy-leaning tastes. But the narrative is so meticulous and the pacing is so tight, that even my gentler palate surrendered with a stunned admiration. This storyline isn't just unique. It's ambitious, audacious, and executed with eerie precision.
Folks, clear your schedules, because once those pages start turning, you're not putting this down until someone tries to pry it from your hands. But then, they better watch out! Because you are learning from a killer who almost never got caught!!!
Would I Recommend it? Would I wish joy in your life? Would I wish for you to experience the best reading material? Then you have the answer to this question Pre-order it! Mark 24 Feb 2026 in red! Fight your friends for the ARC! Whatever it takes! This debut deserves to explode.
Let's discuss the Killer Instinct Have you ever read a thriller that dared to write its murderer inside the story? Would you pick up a fictional "how to" crime manual as a part of a mystery plot, or would it freak you out too much? Tell me your thoughts, my detective friends!
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.