This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

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CW: grief, death, suicide, suicidal ideation, infection, pandemic, gun violence, abuse, parental abuse

This unfortunately didn’t quite land for me as much of Summers’ other work has done. The characterisation was good but the pace dragged a little and the relationships were difficult to connect to.

Selfish Girls by Abigail Bergstrom

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CW: grief, death, miscarriage, cheating, abuse, neglect

Bergstrom has a really engaging way of writing and it felt like falling into a soft haze with these differing timelines and perspectives. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the fractured nature of their family bonds but was left wanting more.

Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: coercive control, death, murder, abusive relationships, manipulation, injury, violence, blood

Goldsmith consistently delivers great YA speculative mysteries and this is no exception. It builds on a wonderful premise to deliver an eco-horror, locked room style mystery that escalates in tension and delivers a powerful story.

Full review here.

The Cut by Richard Armitage

CW: death, murder, violence, manipulation, sexual harassment

I think this had a great premise but then didn’t fully deliver for me. Armitage has a gripping style of writing and the mystery is interesting, but I struggled with connecting with the characters.

The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine

CW: death, murder, violence, disappearance, blackmail, cannibalism, suicide (some are mentioned)

This is a fantastic thriller for the way it keeps you glued to the pages and constantly second guessing yourself. It is all about scandal, celebrity and family with the truth as a goal to be chased after. Valentine packs the pages with twists too.

Full review here.

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

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CW: murder, death, stalking, manipulation, cheating, classism, assault, violence, PTSD

This was a brilliant thriller that combines aspects of Dark Academia with a psychologically rich examination of trauma rippling through the lives of those affected by that fateful night. It interrogates the justice system and the consumption of crime as sensationalised stories at the cost of those involved in awful nightmares.

Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh

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CW: death, murder, violence, burglary, sexual assault, harassment, stalking, rape, death of a child

This is such a fantastically surprising book that starts from a dark but understandable concept and spirals out of control. Cavanagh once again leads you on a wild and twisty ride in this morally murky story. There was one twist in particular that made me audibly gasp.

A Murder of Rogues by Joe Heap

🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

CW: transphobia, homophobia, sexism, misogyny, blackmail, death, murder, police brutality, ableism, classism, violence, injury, blood, gun violence

This was a sensational YA historical mystery with wonderful queer and disabled representation. It is fantastically written and highly engaging.

Full review here.

Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, racism, sexism, misogyny, drugging, sexual assault, slavery, grief

This is an assured and well-written debut that kickstarts a lot of important conversations. The mystery is engaging and has some great twists and turns. I just wanted Eva to feel more active in the investigation and the ending was a little underwhelming for me.

Immortal Consequences by I. V Marie

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, grief, injury, blood

Marie weaves a darkly enchanting tale out of a brilliant concept in this Dark Academia style novel set in the in between of life and death. The stakes couldn’t be higher in this cutthroat competition.

Full review here.

A Beautiful Evil by Bea Fitzgerald

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

CW: death, violence, grief, misogyny, sexism, fatphobia, rape culture, sexual assault, war, gore, surgery, blood, ableism, emotional manipulation, abusive familial relationships, suicide

Yet again Bea Fitzgerald delivers a heart-wrenching, tender and beautiful reexamination of a tale you may think you know. The characterisation is stellar and Pandora stole a space in my heart so quickly.

Full review to come.

Roar of the Lambs by Jamison Shea

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

CW: body horror, death, gore, classism, racism, misogny, misogynoir, kidnapping, transphobia, bullying, death of a parent, grief, fire

The characterisation, mystery, horror and world-building of this were great. Shea’s writing is delectably dark and brings these incredible concepts to life wonderfully. I just felt that the ending didn’t quite work for me.

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, grief, drowning, blood, violence, cults, poisoning, gore

This was a reread ahead of the prequel and it’s still a duplicitous, conniving and thoroughly cunning book that merges horror and mystery into one spell-binding story. Murphy pulls no punches.

Full review here.

Keep Your Friends Close by Cynthia Murphy

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, cheating, gore, blood, injury, drugging, body horror, classism, manipulation, grooming

Murphy did not come to play. This is a slick and unputdownable YA thriller that complements its predecessor wonderfully but also works as a standalone. My jaw dropped with some of the twists and turns.

Full review to come.