The Reaper by Jackson P. Brown

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, gore, injury, suicide, racism, grooming, manipulation, domestic violence, arson, gried

What a strong debut! This had such excellent and intriguing world-building that I thoroughly enjoyed. The central dynamic and how that shifted was also delectable.

The Spiral Key by Kelsey Day

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, bullying, manipulation, car accident, addiction

The Spiral Key is an intriguing and imaginative YA thriller that combines very timely conversations with the timeless topic of friendships. It asks what lengths we would go to in order to protect our secrets and looks at new forms of manipulation.

Full review here.

Local Heavens by K. M. Fajardo

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, shooting, violence, blood, infidelity, abuse, racism, xenophobia

I’ve loved Gatsby for a long time and this was such a bold reimagining with gorgeous writing, layered characterisation and a world that unsettled me deeply. I cannot wait to see what Fajardo does next.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

⭐️🧠

CW: death, murder, grief, car accident

I really enjoyed the central concept of this story and the way it is ultimately a meditation of life, love and what you may decide if you knew when it would all end. The characterisation was great and layered. It took some unexpected twists and turns too.

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, grief, death of a child, abusive relationship

This is a staggering debut packed to the brim with twists, turns and terrific characterisation. I can see why this launched such a strong and consistent career.

A Deadly Pledge by M. A. Bennett

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, hazing, bullying, classism

This is a deeply atmospheric Gothic YA thriller.  It’s a pacy and engaging read that keeps the pages flowing as you move further and further into this dark world. 

Full review here.

A Degree of Murder by Maz Evans

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, sexism, gaslighting, injury, blackmail, addiction, car accident

This is a compact and compelling story that bursts the bubble of this cohort and revels in their deceptions, lies and secrets finally being brought to light. It is so well-balanced and intricately plotted. 

Full review here.

I Think We Should Kill Other People by L. M. Chilton

🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, gore, sexism, cheating, infidelity, sexual assault, rape

This latest outing has an irresistible hook, think Married at First Sight meets The Bachelor but with murder. There’s a dash of the pitch black comedy of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone but married with this peek behind the curtain of reality TV.

Full review here.

The Scoop by Erin Van Der Meer

⭐️🧠

CW: harassment, stalking, online abuse, fatphobia

I really wanted to love this book and times it really soared in the ways I wanted it too. It went there and explored the consequences of the characters’ actions, but at others, it floundered and seemed a little unsure of itself. For me, the pacing was also off and the ending didn’t quite land for me.

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault

I really enjoyed the narrative framing of this story and how it approaches the true crime genre from a more realistic and victim-focused angle. This is a layered and intriguing story that pulls you into its murky depths.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

🧠

CW: death, murder, grief, past child death, infertility issues, maternal mortality, child emotional abuse, addiction, suicide, torture, kidnapping, fire, serial killer

This was a reread and my original review still stands, which you can check out here.

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

🧠

CW: murder, death, rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, blackmail, gaslighting, manipulation, hit and run, poisoning  

This was another reread and I stand by my thoughts, which you can check out in my full review here.

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

🧠💙

CW: death, murder, violence, terminal illness, shooting, suicide, self-immolation

This whole series is darkly hilarious and just a blast to read. This latest instalment is another knockout and I love the way Stevenson somehow keeps finding new ways to play with the genre.

Full review here.

How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin

⭐️🏳️‍🌈

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

This continues a compelling cosy crime series that I am thoroughly enjoying. With every book, Perrin adds new and intriguing layers to the central story and yet you have even more questions that allow your mind to linger in this world.

Full review here.

Triple Threat by Isha Raya

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, gore, blackmail, manipulation, shooting, racism, colourism, sexual harassment, drugging, sexual assault

This was an unfortunate case of my high hopes not quite being met. The concept for this and the initial setup were great but it dragged for me at times and felt like it moved beyond the realms of reality for the characters. I really disliked the ending as well.

Your Murder Next by Ravena Guron

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, blackmail, manipulation, classism

This is another excellent YA mystery from a powerhouse in the genre. It is an addictive read full of secrets, lies and betrayal.

Full review to come.

One of Your Number by L. J. Shepherd

🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, manipulation, blackmail, gore, injury, suicide 

This is a treacherous trickster of a book. The story shapeshifts and trips you along the way with great twists and use of a wonderful concept. 

Full review here.

The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, gore, grief, manipulation

This is a stellar work from another powerhouse within this space. It is twisty, compelling and explores this world in fascinating ways. It’s a layered story that you won’t be able to put down.

Full review to come.

Survival Show by Juno Dawson

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, chronic illness, transphobia

This has been on my radar for a long time; I mean K-pop turned deadly in a dystopian world is a killer pitch. This more than delivers with a story that grips you tight and refuses to release you from its clutches.

Full review to come.

Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, disappearance, manipulation, grooming, rape, grief

From that brilliant pitch and incredibly strong opening, Pearson had me in the palm of her hand. This is a tight and twisty YA mystery exploring the dark side of fame and the complex bond of sisterhood.

Full review to come.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

⭐️🧠

CW: gore, violence, death, animal death, murder, child abuse, trafficking

This is a book that wields creeping dread like a weapon. It is a thorny story full of surprises and an ending sequence that has been seared in my mind since the final page.

Full review to come.

Whatever Happened to Madeline Stone? by Louise O’Neill

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, grief, suicidal ideation, addiction, abuse, manipulation

I have loved O’Neill’s work for many, many years but this might just be the most affecting piece of her work I’ve read. This is the type of book you cannot wait to talk about. It is rich and layered with plenty of thought-provoking topics to discuss. 

Full review here.

The Mother by T. M. Logan

🧠

CW: murder, death, grief, violence

I really enjoyed the set-up of this and thought Logan spun a good story out of the concept. The ending was pretty good but some of the pacing and story along the way didn’t quite land for me.

Havisham by Elle Machray

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, gaslighting, forced institutionalisation, classism, sexism, torture, domestic abuse

I really liked Machray’s writing style and the bold approach she takes with reimagining these characters. It is a nuanced examination of abusive relationships and their lingering effects. However I thought some plot elements weren’t resolved to my satisfaction and were skipped over a little too much.

The Hollow Boys by Tariq Ashkanani

⭐️🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, suicide, gore, child death, cancer, terminal illness

I devoured this in a day and it was just incredible. It gets under your skin and leaves you with an unnerving tale of tragedy and that strange balance of feeling trapped and loving a place sliding towards destruction all at once.

Full review to come.

All Shall Mourn by Ellie Marney

⭐️🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, gore, incest, grooming, blood, injury, traumatic flashbacks

Unfortunately the closing chapter of this trilogy didn’t hit the heights of the previous books. Characters felt unnecessarily sidelined and some of the building dynamics were squandered from the other books. The ending and epilogue also irritated me.

Coterie of Liars by Kate Weston

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, gore, fire, classism, bullying, cheating

I understand and endorse those Saltburn comparisons. This is a full throttle and darkly humorous story skewering the elite, the secrets they’ll go to any lengths to keep and the deadly legacy they may be carrying.

Full review to come.