3.5 Stars • Next of Kin by John Boyne (2006) is a twisty thriller set in 1936 London. Owen Montignac, a broke aristocrat, gets snubbed in his uncle‘s will, leaving everything to his cousin Stella. Facing a huge debt to a shady casino boss, Owen schemes to steal art, blackmail, and even kill to get what he thinks is his. He ropes in Gareth, the lazy son of a judge, and things spiral into a messy web of lies and murder. ⬇️

5 Stars • Crippen by John Boyne is a historical novel based on the 1910 murder case of Dr. Hawley Crippen. In London, Cora Crippen‘s dismembered body is found in their home‘s cellar, prompting Chief Inspector Walter Dew to pursue Crippen and his mistress, Ethel Le Neve, who flee to Canada disguised as father and son aboard the SS Montrose. ⬇️

Read in June 2025
22 Books
Five 5-Star reads this month:
• Death Row
• One by One
• Never Lie
• Want to Know a Secret?
• The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #Litsy #Libby #Audible #Kindle #Bookish

Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • The Secret of Chimneys (1925) by Agatha Christie introduces Superintendent Battle. Anthony Cade, an adventurer, is tasked with delivering a Herzoslovakian count‘s memoirs and returning compromising letters to Virginia Revel. ⬇️

Bowie‘s Books by John O‘Connell ⚡️10 of 100

3 Stars • Money: A Suicide Note by Martin Amis (1984) is a satirical novel about John Self, a hedonistic British ad director chasing a film deal between London and New York. His life of excess—booze, drugs, sex, and consumerism—unravels amid betrayals and a mysterious stalker, Frank. ⬇️

4 Stars • The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman is a quick, funny read that‘s pure Backman—witty, warm, and a bit absurd. Lucas, a grumpy introvert, just wants to game and eat pad thai in peace, but a rogue frying pan in his building‘s recycling room sparks a hilarious mess of nosy neighbors, petty apartment board drama, and even a cult calling him an angel. ⬇️

4 Stars • The Ghostwriter is a total page-turner that dives into some seriously messed-up family drama. Olivia, a ghostwriter down on her luck, gets roped into writing her dad Vincent‘s memoir. He‘s a creepy horror author who might‘ve killed his siblings back in ‘75, and now he‘s ready to spill the beans. Flipping between now and the ‘70s, you get hit with shady narrators, dark secrets, and a wild ride through their toxic family vibes. ⬇️

4 Stars • The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado follows FBI Agent Nina Guerrera, a survivor of a brutal kidnapping by a serial killer called the Cipher. Years later, a viral video reignites the killer‘s obsession, leading to a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The Cipher taunts Nina and the FBI with cryptic messages and murders, using social media to engage the public. ⬇️

3 Stars • Imaginary Strangers by Minka Kent is a psychological thriller about Camille Prescott, a sociopath hiding a traumatic past of abuse from her psychotic mother, Lucinda. Living a seemingly perfect life, Camille‘s world unravels when her daughter Georgie‘s imaginary friend reveals secrets from her childhood. As paranoia grows, Camille fights to protect her family, leading to a shocking twist.

3 Stars • In Sally Hepworth's The Ex-Wives Club (Amazon Alibis Collection 2) novella, celebrity chef Ian Curley is found dead in his restaurant's freezer. His three ex-wives—Anita, Mary-Jane, and Rosie—are prime suspects, each with motives but alibis. A detective uncovers lies among them, Ian‘s girlfriend, children, and staff in this witty, suspenseful whodunit.

#TheExWivesClub #AlibisCollection #SallyHepworth #Bookish

3 Stars • Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver is a gripping dystopian sci-fi thriller set in a climate-ravaged 2050. Investigative journalist Marcus Tully unravels a chilling conspiracy connecting a catastrophic heatwave to geo-engineering and a murder tied to Solomon, the first AI politician vying for global leadership. ⬇️

I‘ve been on a “Freida Frenzy“ for the last three weeks. My mission: Read all the Freida McFadden books that I hadn‘t already read. I can now say that I am a “Freida Completist”. Now I have to wait for her newest title, The Intruder, coming out October 7, 2025. Hope I don‘t go through horrible withdrawal symptoms.

3.5 Stars • The Housemaid's Wedding by Freida McFadden is a short story set between The Housemaid‘s Secret and The Housemaid is Watching. On her wedding day at City Hall, Millie Calloway receives threatening calls and messages, hinting someone wants to stop her marriage to Enzo. Balancing romance and suspense, Millie hides the threats to protect their day. ⬇️

Today must be my lucky day ☘️

5 Stars • The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie by Freida McFadden is a satirical/hilarious novella blending dark humor and psychological thriller tropes. Alice, a widow, sees her deceased husband Grant everywhere after his funeral, sparking paranoia and absurd twists involving mistaken identities and possible siblings. ⬇️

4 Stars • In Freida McFadden's "The Gift," a Christmas thriller inspired by O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," newlywed Stella Hansen, struggling financially, makes a desperate deal with a mysterious woman, Helga, to get the perfect Christmas gift for her husband, Justin. The creepy, fast-paced novella explores sacrifice and love, culminating in a shocking twist that recontextualizes the story.

#TheGift #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

4 Stars • In The Devil You Know (Dr. Jane McGill, Book 2) by Freida McFadden, Dr. Jane McGill, now an internist at a VA hospital, juggles her demanding job, motherhood, and a strained marriage to Ben. When her charming ex, Dr. Ryan “Sexy Surgeon” Reilly, joins her workplace, old feelings resurface, forcing Jane to confront past choices and current frustrations. ⬇️

4 Stars • In The Devil Wears Scrubs by Freida McFadden, Dr. Jane McGill, a new medical intern, navigates the chaos of County Hospital. Under the tyrannical senior resident Dr. Alyssa Morgan, dubbed "The Devil," Jane faces sleepless nights, tough patients, and a sadistic surgeon. With humor, she tackles self-doubt, romance, and the brutal realities of medical training in this satirical, fast-paced novel.

I‘m just wondering what kind of genius developed this audiobook app? Probably the same person who came up with daylight saving time.

3.5 Stars • Baby City by Freida McFadden and Kelley Stoddard is a light-hearted medical drama following Emily McCoy, a third-year OB/GYN resident in a chaotic New York City hospital's Labor and Delivery unit, dubbed "Baby City." ⬇️

Dead Med was originally published as Suicide Med. Dead Med is a revised edition with about 20% changes.

4 Stars • Dead Med by Freida McFadden is a medical thriller following Heather McKinley, a student at DeWitt Medical School, dubbed "Dead Med" for its history of student overdoses. ⬇️

4 Stars • The Ex by Freida McFadden is a fast-paced psychological thriller following Cassie, a young bookstore owner, who starts dating Joel, a charming doctor. As their relationship grows, mysterious and unsettling events—vandalism, strange messages, and intrusions—begin to disrupt Cassie‘s life. ⬇️

3.5 Stars • The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller centered on Sylvia Robinson, who takes a job caring for Victoria Barnett, a woman supposedly disabled after an accident, and her handsome husband, Adam. Sylvia uncovers Victoria's diary, revealing shocking secrets about the couple, leading to twists involving deception, power dynamics, and danger.

#TheWifeUpstairs #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

Stolen from FB

5 Stars • Want to Know a Secret? by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller about April Masterson, a YouTube baking star with a seemingly perfect life. Dark secrets, including her son‘s odd behavior, an affair, and a buried secret, unravel when she receives threatening texts. Set in a drama-filled suburban neighborhood, the story builds suspense throughout and is a fast-paced, twisty read for fans of domestic thrillers.

5 Stars • Death Row by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller novella about Talia Kemper, on death row for murdering her husband, Noel, despite an alibi and no clear motive. As her execution looms, she spots a man resembling Noel, hinting he may be alive. Dual timelines explore her prison life and past suspicions of Noel‘s infidelity. ⬇️

5 Stars • In Freida McFadden‘s One by One, Claire, Noah, and two couples vacation in the woods to mend relationships. Their minivan breaks down, stranding them, and group members die mysteriously. Claire‘s affair with Jack and Lindsay‘s resentment surface. Lindsay and Warner orchestrate the deaths, but Lindsay fakes her own and tries to frame Noah. ⬇️

5 Stars • Never Lie by Freida McFadden follows newlyweds Tricia and Ethan, trapped in a remote manor during a blizzard. The house belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a psychiatrist who vanished. Tricia finds audio tapes revealing secrets about Hale‘s disappearance. Alternating between past and present, the thriller unveils deception and twists, leading to a shocking conclusion.

#NeverLie #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

Read in May 2025
18 Books
Five 5-Star reads this month:
• The Tenant
• The Fountains of Silence
• Six Days in Bombay
• The Family Experiment
• Ricochet

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #Litsy #Libby #Audible #Kindle #Bookish

4 Stars • I have not found a Freida McFadden book that I didn‘t like. I‘ve already read quite a few but now I am on a “Freida Frenzy“ and am determined to finish the rest of her catalog.

The Locked Door follows Nora Davis, a surgeon hiding her past as the daughter of a serial killer. When her patients are murdered in her father‘s signature style, Nora becomes a suspect. ⬇️

4 Stars • Freida McFadden‘s Do You Remember? is a taut psychological thriller about Tess Strebel, who, after a car accident, wakes daily with no memory of the past decade. Living with Graham, who claims to be her husband, Tess receives a cryptic warning, unraveling his deceptive control over her life. McFadden‘s fast-paced narrative, driven by Tess‘s unreliable perspective, uses sharp twists and foreshadowing effectively.

Book Haul

4 Stars • In Brain Damage by Freida McFadden, Dr. Charly McKenna, a dermatologist, suffers a brain injury from a gunshot, causing left-side neglect and memory loss. As she navigates rehab, she uncovers fragmented memories to identify her attacker, blending suspense, medical realism, and themes of trauma and betrayal.

#BrainDamage #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

5 Stars • The Tenant by Freida McFadden is a tense psychological thriller about Blake Porter, a marketing VP, who finds his life unraveling after being fired for allegedly selling company secrets. Desperate, he agrees to take in a tenant, Whitney Cross, to help with mortgage payments. However, strange occurrences start to plague Blake, and he suspects Whitney is sabotaging his life and relationship with his fiancée, Krista.

Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • Poirot Investigates (1924) is a collection of eleven short stories by Agatha Christie featuring the meticulous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. ⬇️

4 Stars • Elektra by Jennifer Saint retells the Trojan War through three women: Clytemnestra, betrayed by her husband Agamemnon‘s sacrifice of their daughter; Cassandra, a Trojan princess cursed to foresee doom but never believed; and Elektra, their daughter, torn between loyalty and revenge. It‘s a vivid, emotional take on myth, exploring female strength, trauma, and war‘s toll.

#Elektra #JenniferSaint #Bookish #GreekMythology

2 Stars • Pamela Dean reimagines the Scottish ballad as a 1970s urban fantasy set at Blackstock College, Minnesota. Freshman Janet Carter navigates academic life, friendships, and romances with Classics majors tied to the mysterious Professor Medeous. Amid literary discussions and subtle supernatural hints, the novel builds slowly to a magical climax. Blending coming-of-age themes with lyrical prose. It really didn‘t hit the mark for me.

4 Stars • Yes, I do read non-fiction. Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari dives into humanity‘s next chapter. With hunger, sickness, and war mostly under control, we‘re now chasing eternal life, constant joy, and superhuman powers through tech like AI and gene editing. ⬇️

5 Stars • The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys is set in 1957 Spain under Franco‘s regime. Daniel, an American teen photographer, uncovers the dictatorship‘s secrets through his photos while falling for Ana, a hotel maid with a tragic past. The novel explores oppression, forced adoptions, and Spain‘s silenced history, blending romance and historical truth.

#TheFountainsOfSilence #RutaSepetys #Bookish

5 Stars • Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi, set in 1930s British India, follows Sona, an Anglo-Indian nurse, who bonds with Mira, a half-Indian painter. After Mira‘s sudden death, Sona is blamed and fired. Tasked with delivering Mira‘s paintings to Prague, Paris, Florence, and London, Sona travels across Europe to clear her name, exploring identity and art amid a looming war.

#SixDaysInBombay #AlkaJoshi #Bookish

3 Stars • In Let Her Be (Hush #6) by Lisa Unger, Will, a troubled aspiring novelist, investigates his ex-girlfriend Anisa‘s seemingly perfect life after a toxic breakup and his suicide attempt. Obsessed with her social media, he suspects something sinister behind her idyllic posts. With friend Emily, Will uncovers clues, but his unreliable perspective blurs truth and deception in this 56-page psychological thriller.

#LetHerBe #LisaUnger #Bookish

Thank you #LiuBookGroup and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is August 5, 2025.

4 Stars • In Berlin by Eric Silberstein hits all the feels. Anna, a high-flying software engineer, gets blindsided by a spinal stroke, flipping her Berlin life upside down. ⬇️

5 Stars • In The Family Experiment by John Marrs, set in a dystopian Britain, overpopulation and poverty push couples to raise virtual "MetaBabies" in the Metaverse. A reality show pits contestants against each other for the chance keep their AI child or enough money to get a child through IVF, adoption. or other means. ⬇️

4 Stars • In The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose, Sarah Morgan, now married to Bob with a daughter, faces chaos when Bob‘s affair sparks a divorce. New DNA evidence reopens her ex-husband Adam‘s murder case, and the woman Bob slept with vanishes. Sarah battles suspicion and secrets in a twisty, fast-paced thriller, showcasing her cunning as past and present collide. I hope there will be a third episode in this series.

5 Stars • Ricochet by Kellyn Carni is a thrilling YA historical fantasy where Anastasia and Alexei Romanov, saved by a magical garnet, navigate an alternate 1918 Russia. Blending rich history with multiverse twists, the story shines with Anastasia‘s fierce loyalty and fast-paced plot, though secondary characters could use more depth. A captivating 5-star debut for fans of magic-infused history.

#Ricochet #KellynCarni #Bookish #Romanov

4 Stars • The Perfect Marriage follows Sarah Morgan, a high-powered defense attorney, whose seemingly perfect life with her husband Adam unravels when he‘s accused of murdering his mistress. The plot twists are wild—every time I thought I had it figured out, Jeneva Rose threw in another curveball. Sarah‘s fierce determination to defend Adam, kept me glued to the pages, wondering if love, betrayal, or something darker was at play.

4 Stars • Lights All Night Long by Lydia Fitzpatrick gripped me with Ilya‘s quest from Russia to Louisiana, chasing truth about his jailed brother, Vladimir. The mystery unfolds through vivid dual timelines, blending suspense with deep family ties. Ilya‘s bond with Sadie and their search for answers hit hard, delivering a heartfelt, hopeful tale of loyalty and sacrifice.

#LightsAllNightLong #LydiaFitzpatrick #Bookish

3.5 Stars • The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden is a gripping, emotional ride through World War I. Nurse Laura Iven hunts for her lost brother Freddie in a war-ravaged world, blending raw history with a touch of spooky magic. Arden‘s beautiful writing pulls you into the heartbreak and horror, with a creepy figure, Faland, adding chills. A must-read for anyone who loves deep, atmospheric stories.