Rhonda Monarque
A Box Full of Darkness has all the ingredients of a gripping supernatural thriller—a haunted house, a missing child, and a deeply fractured family—but it doesn’t fully land the emotional or narrative payoff it promises.
The premise is immediately compelling: three siblings return to their childhood home nearly two decades after their little brother vanished during a game of hide-and-seek, drawn back by what seems to be his ghost. The eerie town of Fell and the house itself are richly atmospheric, with a constant sense that something is wrong just beneath the surface. The creepy moments and slow-building dread are easily the book’s strongest features.
Where the story shines most is in its focus on family dynamics. The strained relationships, guilt, and buried secrets between the siblings feel authentic and often emotionally heavy. However, that same focus can also slow the pacing. The novel leans heavily into character development early on, which may frustrate readers looking for quicker horror payoffs or more action.
The shifting perspectives between siblings add depth but can also feel a bit muddled at times, making it harder to stay grounded in the story. And while the mystery surrounding the brother’s disappearance is intriguing, the resolution may leave some readers unsatisfied or confused, with a few loose ends lingering.
Overall, it’s an engaging but imperfect read—strong on atmosphere and emotion, but uneven in execution. Fans of slow-burn, character-driven horror will likely enjoy it, but those wanting a tighter, more fast-paced thriller might find it lacking.
Bottom line: Worth reading for the mood and family drama, but not the author’s most satisfying or cohesive novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ALC!
Her Last Breath is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that doesn’t let up once it gets going. The story drops you straight into danger and keeps the tension high with relentless pacing and constant twists.
Taylor Adams does a great job creating a claustrophobic, high-stakes atmosphere, and the survival element makes every decision feel urgent and risky. While a few moments stretch believability, the action and suspense more than make up for it.
This is a gripping, adrenaline-fueled read that’s perfect if you’re in the mood for a tense thriller you can fly through.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book.
This was a tense and engaging listen that kept my attention all the way through. The story slowly peels back secrets from the past, and the unease builds nicely as everything starts to connect. I really enjoyed the atmosphere—creepy without being over the top—and the twists were well placed.
The narrator did a solid job bringing the characters to life and maintaining suspense, which made it easy to stay immersed. While a few moments felt a bit drawn out, the payoff was worth it.
Overall, a strong psychological thriller audiobook that’s perfect if you enjoy slow-burn tension, dark secrets, and a haunting mystery.
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
This audiobook was a fun and easy listen with a cute premise, but it didn’t fully pull me in. The characters were likable, and the narration was solid, though the story felt a bit predictable. While it had some sweet and funny moments, it lacked the depth to really stand out. Overall, an enjoyable rom-com audiobook.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC.
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins was a gripping audiobook with a tense, moody atmosphere. The story pulled me in quickly, and the narrator did an excellent job building suspense and emotion. While it wasn’t perfect, it was an entertaining listen that kept my attention until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ALC.
Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson was a light, entertaining listen with a fun premise and plenty of humor. The audiobook narrator did a good job bringing out the quirky moments and helped keep the story engaging. While the plot was easy to follow and enjoyable, it didn’t fully stand out from similar romantic comedies. Some characters could have been more developed, and parts of the story dragged a bit. Overall, it’s a pleasant audiobook for a casual listen, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.
Shy Girl is a dark and intense audiobook that kept my attention from start to finish. The narrator does a good job bringing the main character’s fear and anger to life, which made the story feel even more unsettling.
Some parts felt a little repetitive, and the content is definitely extreme, so it won’t be for everyone. Still, it’s a gripping listen that left an impression. If you enjoy disturbing horror and strong narration, this one is worth checking out.
Georgia Maguire did an amazing job with the narration.
When I Kill You by B.A. Paris is a tense, fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked. The short chapters and steady twists made it easy to keep reading, and the suspense builds well throughout the story. While a few moments felt predictable, the overall plot was engaging and satisfying. A solid psychological thriller that fans of B.A. Paris will enjoy.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney is a suspenseful, fast-paced thriller that keeps you interested from start to finish. The story is full of twists, secrets, and tense moments that make it hard to put down.
The characters are complex and a bit unsettling, which adds to the mystery. While some parts felt a little dramatic, the surprises were fun and fit the story well.
Overall, it’s an engaging and entertaining read, especially for fans of psychological thrillers.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ALC
Pretty Girls is dark, intense, and full of twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. Karin Slaughter delivers a story that’s emotional, shocking, and unforgettable.
The audiobook narration is outstanding. The narrator’s voice brings out the fear, grief, and tension perfectly, making the story even more gripping. The pacing and production are excellent—I couldn’t stop listening.
If you love thrillers that keep you on edge, this one is a must.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for this ALC.
This story is imaginative, eerie, and full of originality—Sarah Gailey has such a distinct voice as a writer. The premise is strange in the best way and kept me curious all the way through. What really stood out, though, was the narrator, who brought so much energy and nuance to the story. Their performance added depth and emotion, making the unsettling parts even more gripping. A creative, memorable listen.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
I’m not sure I fully understood what the author was going for in Open Wide. The writing was fine, but the story didn’t quite click for me. I felt like I was missing the deeper point, and that kept me from fully connecting with it.
I think part of my issue was that the narrator made the main character sound like a teenager and with the subject matter it took me out of the story. This probably would have been better if read with my eyes instead of my ears.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published August 12, 2025.
Lucky Day is a unique and imaginative book. It explores big ideas like fate, choice, and identity in a very unusual way. The story is surreal but has a surprising amount of heart.
Some parts can be a bit hard to follow, which is why it's not a full 5 stars. Still, it's a powerful and creative read that sticks with you.
If you're looking for something different that makes you think, Lucky Day is a great pick.
The narration was right on point. Mara Wilson did an amazing job as always.
Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book.
I have given all of Stacy Willingham's books 4 stars and this one is no different. This was very haunting and atmospheric. It did start out as a bit of a slow burn and I had an inkling where it was headed, but it still gripped me until the very end. The narrators (Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker) did an amazing job reading this story.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc!
Riley Sager is back! This is a great, fast paced, mystery that is reminiscent of Agatha Christie. If you go into his book expecting a thriller with his usual twists you may be disappointed. This was the perfect old fashioned mystery set on a train in 1954. Even though the book takes place in the winter it was still a great beach read. I read it in one day!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ALC.
This was cute, entertaining, lighthearted mystery. As much as one can be with murder involved. This was my first Laura Lippman so I didn't know until the author's note that this was a character from another series. The one thing that I found a bit annoying was how she was always talking about her weight, to everybody, even strangers. As a fat person myself I found it a bit too much. The narrator did an amazing job with the story. I found it very easy to listen to.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for this ALC.
This book is the perfect summer read. It is so much fun. It has more twists and turns throughout the story then a hula-hoop contest. A comedy of errors and miscommunication and very fast paced. The narrators, Kiiri Sandy; John Pirhalla, did an amazing job with this production.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ALC.
Nikki Erlick did it again with another thought provoking novel. We all experience grief differently, but what if you didn’t have to experience it at all? This book explores the concept of healing grief through sleep.
The cast of narrators did an amazing job.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
This is the perfect summer thriller/mystery! Jamie Day does domestic thriller to a tee! The narrators Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole did an amazing job. The character development was just ok and that is what kept it from being a 5 star in my opinion.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC.
This book was a bit of a slow burn, very atmospheric and creepy, and it paid off in the end. I loved the Gothic feel of this story and the narrators (Helen Baxendale; Jamie Glover; Sarah Pinborough) did an amazing job.
If you are looking for a good haunted house story, this is it!
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
This is probably my least favorite S.A. Cosby book to date. Although it was well written and tragic, I just could not bring myself to be interested in these characters. The narrator Adam Lazarre-White did an amazing job with the audio book and brought all the characters to life.
Thank you to netgalley and blackstone publishing for the ALC.
This is one of those rare cases where the sequel is better than the original. Even if the twists were kind of predictable, I still enjoyed the game of cat and mouse. The pace seemed fast and it definitely had some darkness.
The narration was spot on in this audio book.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
This was my first Alex North novel and probably not my last. This was a very dark and twisty tale. I liked that it had the POV of both current time and the past. It helped shape the story. It does have multiple POV's but I found them all easy to follow. Talk about a lot of trauma! The beginning is a bit of a slow burn, but worth it.
The narrator did an amazing job.