Tag: Mystery

Posted in Mystery, Novella/Short Story, Thrillers

Graveyard Shift

Posted on by Mama

Original post from my Mom blog here – https://mamaonthemove1.wordpress.com/2026/02/25/book-review-graveyard-shift/

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Title: Graveyard Shift


Author: M.L. Rio


Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Novella


Number of Pages: 126


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Author of sales sensation If We Were Villains returns with a story about a ragtag group of night shift workers who meet in the local cemetery to unearth the secrets lurking in an open grave.

Every night, in the college’s ancient cemetery, five people cross paths as they work the late shift: a bartender, a rideshare driver, a hotel receptionist, the steward of the derelict church that looms over them, and the editor-in-chief of the college paper, always in search of a story.

One dark October evening in the defunct churchyard, they find a hole that wasn’t there before. A fresh, open grave where no grave should be. But who dug it, and for whom?

Before they go their separate ways, the gravedigger returns. As they trail him through the night, they realize he may be the key to a string of strange happenings around town that have made headlines for the last few weeks—and that they may be closer to the mystery than they thought.

Atmospheric and eerie, with the ensemble cast her fans love and a delightfully familiar academic backdrop, Graveyard Shift is a modern Gothic tale in If We Were Villains author M. L. Rio’s inimitable style.

My Thoughts:

I actually really enjoyed this novella. It was short, captivating and filled with intrigue. I truly couldn’t put it down and devoured the whole thing in a few hours. What?! I’m a bit of a slow reader okay!

It catches your attention right from the start and I love the individual chapters for each character. It allows for different perspectives and narratives. A bunch of insomniacs meeting in an abandon graveyard to have a few smokes and chat. Only to encounter a mysterious gravedigger, but what are they burying?!

There is a sense of foreboding as our edgy “Scooby gang” follows him around and slowly uncover the truth behind his midnight burial. There is more to this then meets the eye and is definitely linked to other events that have been happening around campus and the local bar haunt. I even loved that one of the characters in the group is also linked to what is going on to our mystery digger.

However I won’t give any spoilers in this one, but I just wish this was an actual novel rather then just a novel. I would have loved to see more character development, more links to the scientific aspect in all this and more justice frankly. But honestly my absolute favourite portion of the whole thing was the atmosphere that the author portrays.

I know a lot of the reviews thought this was meh, but for a novella I thought it was pretty spot on. Again, I honestly wish this was an actual novel, not just a novella. I do recommend if you want some strange vibes, awesome atmosphere and a little mystery for a quick read. I will be reading more from this author for sure!

Hope you enjoyed and keep an eye out for the next review which will be The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han.

Ciao!

Posted in Thrillers, Young Adult

The Lake

Posted on by Mama

Original post from my Mom blog here – https://mamaonthemove1.wordpress.com/2026/02/25/book-review-the-lake/

Title: The Lake


Author: Natasha Preston


Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Young Adult


Number of Pages: 378


My Rating: 💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Esme and Kayla once were campers at Camp Pine Lake. Now they’re back as counselors-in-training. Esme loves the little girls in her cabin and thinks it’s funny how scared they are of everything—the woods, the bugs, the boys…even swimming in the lake. It reminds her of how she and Kayla used to be. Before…

Because Esme and Kayla did something terrible when they were campers. Something they’ve kept a secret all these years. They vow that this summer will be awesome. Two months of sun, s’mores, and flirting with the cute boy counselors. But then they get a message:
THE LAKE NEVER FORGETS.

The secret they’ve kept buried for so many years is about to resurface.

My Thoughts:

I knew this one would be a quick read, considering I’ve read a few of Natasha’s books already. I can pretty much fly through a young adult novel pretty quickly.

Unfortunately, I thought this one would be a little more thrilling and suspenseful. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the atmosphere of the novel as a whole, set in the woods at a camp, counselors, etc. Definitely gave me a Jason Voorhees, Crystal Lake vibe (which I adore and one of my favourite slasher flicks!) However, this obviously wasn’t that.

The novel surrounds two best friends who are holding a deep dark secret from childhood, but the novel is based in the perspective of Esme. Ultimately, she was the better choice for the narrative, considering I wanted to slap her friend Kayla so many times. Esme at least had some gumption to her, but the slow paranoia and constant anxiety started to get to me near the end. Although there were some character traits that became less then desirable, I understand why the author wrote it that way. How else would a teenage girl react while she is being stalked at a children’s camp?

Kayla was a bit useless to be frank, she only wanted to forget what had happened, never really wanted to discuss the realities of the situation and I felt like she was very selfish and self-centered. She was more interested in her summer boyfriend then the real threat that was happening to her friend Esme and to herself.

There were a few minor characters within the story as well, but honestly they didn’t bring much other then summer romance and some questioning friendships. I kind of called the assistant to the stalker right off the bat, though I wish I had been wrong. I was really hoping that it would have been one of the love interests or even the supervisor of the camp themselves, alas that wasn’t the case.

In the end, their deep dark secret comes spilling out for all to hear and the stalker reveals themself and their heinous plans, a little revenge murder. Why? Because who doesn’t love a psychotic killer/stalker who wants revenge for something that happened to them the night they came in contact with Esme and Kayla. Lillian, the killer/stalker, is cold-hearted, wrathful and will stop at nothing for her revenge.

SPOILER ALERT:

When Esme and Kayla were campers at this exact camp as children, they snuck out one night and started a fire in the woods. They camp across Lillian who was strange, creepy and wanting to show them a dead animal she had killed. There was an altercation between Kayla and Lillian, Kayla pushed her and she feel to the ground unconscious. Unfortunately, at the same time their fire got out of hand and the girls ran back to the cabin, leaving Lillian laying there. The fire starters were never caught and it had always been a mystery as to who had done it. But for the girls, they always kept it quiet and wondered if the girl (Lillian) had made it out safely.

They got their answer in the end.

And Lillian got her revenge, along with a healthy body count of deceased, only to land the blame on someone else and get away.

So did I like this book? It was okay, I wouldn’t re-read it and it’s definitely not in my favourites category, however I just wish their were a few more twists and turns, a bit more escalation on some of the events that occurred and the ending was a bit predictable. All in all, for a young adult thriller I give it three Baci. A good, quick, one time read.

Hope you enjoyed and keep an eye out for the next review which will be the novel Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio.

Ciao!

Posted in Mystery, Thrillers

The Midnight Feast

Posted on by Mama

Original post from my Mom blog here – https://mamaonthemove1.wordpress.com/2025/10/08/book-review-the-midnight-feast/

Title: The Midnight Feast


Author: Lucy Foley


Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller


Number of Pages: 350


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the seaside cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.

And yet, just outside The Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. The local community resents what they see as The Manor’s intrusion into the local woods and attempts to privatize the beach, and small skirmishes have erupted in the edges of the property between locals and the staff. And the whispers keep coming, about an old piece of pagan folklore – it must be folklore? – the Night Birds, an avenging force that can be called upon to make right wrongs that elude the law. Though surely everything at The Manor has been done aboveboard.

On the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered. Something’s not right with the guests. What happened on the grounds of the Manor the past thirty-six hours? And who – or what – is the cause?

Everyone has an agenda. Everyone has a past. But not everyone will survive…The Midnight Feast.

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and really couldn’t put it down. I was a bit hesitant at first, I generally try to stay away from books that are extremely hyped up, but a few chapters in and I was hooked. The multi-perspectives was intriguing to me and I truly can’t remember the last time I read a novel quite like this one. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

The story follows the perspectives: Francesca – the founder, Owen – the husband, Bella – the mysterious guest, Eddie – the kitchen help and DI Walker – detective. It seems overwhelming, but frankly it was a beautiful and delicate dance between all the characters’ perspectives that was skillfully done.

The story begins on the grand opening weekend at The Manor, a luxury retreat for the rich, famous and influential. Francesca is the owner and creator of this extravagant establishment, along with help from her husband Owen, which you quickly learn was her Coastal family home which was owned by her grandparents.

Guests are wined and dined with no expense spared, but the stress of it all begins to cause small cracks in Francesca’s perfect facade that she presents to the world. Then her true colours slowly begin to spill out and secrets slowly emerge.

Mysterious guest, Bella, is determined to confront and right the wrong of the tragedy that she endured 15-years prior at that very home. Meanwhile, local farm boy Eddie take a job at the Manor and is caught between the locals wanting retribution against Francesca and the Manor and his job at the Manor. Not to mention dealing with his dysfunctional family.

The eerie woods loom over the resort with the feeling that they harbour dark and ominous secrets within them. And the local lore certainly doesn’t help, or does it? The woods play a pretty significant role in this story throughout, which I actually love. And the raven like “ancients” known as The Birds…enough said.

I really liked the flow of the story and development of each character. The chapters aren’t overly lengthy, almost like short little snippets into each characters life, history and connections – not to mention their deep dark secrets.

I also really appreciated the diary entries that were included, taking us back in time to the teenage years and the summer spent at the property, which was 15-years prior. It helps to unfold the lies, secrets and horrific events that transpired and just made me, personally, feel a bit nostalgic of my own teenage years writing in my diary. Please… don’t even lie, we all had one! Though, mine wasn’t that dark…just saying.

With each turn of the page, another puzzle piece fell into place and it kept you wanting more. You had to know what was going to happen on the night of the solstice celebration also known as the Midnight Feast. Chaos, deaths, terrorized guests, and a burning Manor leads to a myriad of questions and the gradual unravelling of the nagging mystery dancing around throughout the book.

There are definitely twists and turns and I really don’t want to give much more away. However, the surprises really do make you go “WHAT!? NO WAY!”

So needless to say, highly recommend this one to be tossed on your TBR list. Amazing atmosphere, story, character development and non-stop twists. I have no doubts that you will truly enjoy this thriller mystery.

Plus who doesn’t like ominous woods and local legends? *Winks*

Hope you enjoyed and keep an eye out for the next review.

Ciao!

Posted in Horror, Mystery

The Graveyard Shift

Posted on by Mama

Original post from my Mom blog here – https://mamaonthemove1.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/book-review-the-graveyard-shift/

Title: The Graveyard Shift


Author: Maria Lewis


Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller


Number of Pages: 317


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Tinsel Munroe is the host of The Graveyard Shift – a late-night radio show where she and her loyal listeners celebrate the sounds of cult cinema. She has busted her ass to carve out this section of the airwaves and nothing will keep her from reaching her prime-time dreams…

That is, until someone gets murdered live on air.

She’s freaked out by the horrible incident. Her true crime-obsessed sister Pandora is fascinated by it. Detectives assure them the killer will soon be caught.

Yet with a growing, macabre audience that likely includes the killer, Tinsel begins receiving strange messages. Her home and her workplace suddenly aren’t the sanctuaries she once thought they were.

And the bodies won’t stop dropping, with the killer or killers striking in increasingly gruesome ways. In order to survive, Tinsel is going to have to listen to more than just the airwaves…


My Thoughts:

Frankly I loved this thriller which was clearly written for fans of all things in the horror genre. It begins on Halloween night (OBVIOUSLY!), and of course you have the classic reference to Michael Meyers (from the legendary movie Halloween) right off the bat. The novel is packed with plenty of horror movie references and culture.

Even though it’s a thriller, the novel is a very light, easy and a captivating read. And I love the fact that it wasn’t intentionally trying to scare you, but keep you on your toes instead. I enjoyed that there was quite a lot of dialogue and banter between the characters, which in turn made me love them all the more. I felt that you got to see more of their personalities this way.

Now that I’ve blabbed on, let me get into the nitty gritty.

We have the badass main character, Tinsel Munroe, who is a horror film buff and host of a late-night horror themed radio show – The Graveyard Shift. During her Halloween show, she was taking viewer calls, when suddenly a fan was brutally murdered on live air, her screams and last breaths broadcasted for everyone to hear. Unaware of the reality, Tinsel chalked it up to a Halloween prank until the cops show up the following day to reveal the awful truth.

While the detectives continue to investigate and work the case around Melbourne, people who are linked to the film industry keep dying and the body count keeps rising. It seems that Tinsel and the film industry are at the center of it all, but why?! It’s the nagging question throughout the entire novel. Tinsel is saddled up with Detective James for protection, which they develop a mutual attraction for one another. But he’s honest with her about the case whenever she asks. Their relationship becomes close….very close and quickly.

However, the investigation becomes stagnant and Tinsel decides to take things into her own hands. Luckily, Tinsel in all her spunky personality has an equally tenacious sister named Pandora. Pandora is a true crime blogger with a few connections and they are in a race against the clock to find the killer.

Frankly, you can’t help but love the characters each in their own ways, even the side characters are fun and lovable. Tinsel is a spunky, retro-style, horror loving radio host with sass and drive that makes you root for her the entire book. Pandora is a mom with tenacity, a hunger for all things true crime and a zest for life, especially when it comes to keeping her sister alive in hers. Detective James is masculine, strong and seems to have a no none sense demeanor, but you quickly learn that he’s a big softy with a fun, easy going personality.

I know when I read other reviews, people felt like the romance aspect deterred from the main story, however I quite liked the little breaks from the thriller. To me it depicted a potential real life scenario, which I guess if you want a full on and action packed thriller, then you probably wouldn’t enjoy that aspect. However, I did. Someone’s life can’t be all doom and gloom all the time, there has to be a little bit of sunshine sometimes, right?

The only thing that did bother me, but not enough for me not to give this five Baci, is the face that she was often left at the studio alone with only one security guard and no late night producer. Also that her sister Pandora would put her phone on airplane mode during the night. Considering the nature of her work, which was true crime blogging, and the fact that her sister was endanger of a psychotic killer, you would think it would stay on in case of an emergency. I get not wanting the phone to wake your kiddos, but there is vibrate mode for a reason!

The ending was quite predictable once all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. There was a bit of a shocker, which I won’t spoil but let’s just say, that one was a little unnecessary to add in at the end.

Nevertheless, I loved this novel and if I could have been locked away for a few days, I probably would have finished it in that time. I really didn’t want to put it down, but my little baby girl needs my attention more then a novel. I truly recommend it to anyone who needs a light read and trust me you will fly through it. I felt the author was inventive in the story telling that I really can’t be mad about. Also, a little romance sprinkled in didn’t hurt! But fair warning, you will either love or hate this book, there isn’t an in-between. But if this type of novel intrigues you, give it a shot!

Hope you enjoyed the review! On the go at the moment is The Last Laugh by Lynn Freed and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. So look for those reviews in the near future!

Ciao!

Posted in Mystery, Thrillers

The Manor House

Posted on by Mama

Original post from my Mom blog here – https://mamaonthemove1.wordpress.com/2025/06/21/book-review-the-manor-house/

Title: The Manor House


Author: Gilly Macmillan


Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery


Number of Pages: 327


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Be careful what you wish for…

Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple—until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight.

Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined.

But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool.

Nicole is devastated. Tom is her rock. And their beautiful barn —with all its smart features that never seem to work for her—is beginning to feel very lonely. But she’s not entirely by herself out there in the country. There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help her get through her grief.

But big money can bring big problems and big threats. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident or was it something worse? And is her life in danger as well?

Nicole’s beginning to feel like a little fish in a big glass fishbowl.

Surrounded by piranhas.


My Thoughts:

I know this review is a touch over-do, but better late than never!

First, I enjoyed the premise of the novel and the twists and turns that it takes. It was almost a mystery inside a mystery which was pretty fun.

However, I found the start of the book to be a little bit slow, but then it picked up about halfway through. Which the second half of the novel I just couldn’t put down and my armchair detective skills were in full swing.

The characters were well developed, balanced and intriguing in their own ways. It is essentially two very different homes that play a role in the story line, which creates tension, manipulation and a bit of a spark among the two households.

The Manor is exactly what you would imagine: a majestic older home, shrouded in history and complete with secret passages ways. The patrons who live within these glorious halls are Olly, a novelist, and Sasha, a yoga instructor. The Manor comes complete with a Coach House, which is home to their housekeeper, Kitty.

Whereas it’s counterpart The Glass Barn is an super-modern home that was constructed from the ruins of an old barn building, the dream home of lottery winners Tom and Nicole. Which would eventually just become Nicole.

Tom’s oldest friend, Patrick, comes into play pretty rapidly in this tale, masquerading as a mournful friend and moral support for Nicole. Though his intentions are deceitful and manipulative to say the least. Not a fan of Patrick from the start to be honest and my assumption was confirmed as to why I wasn’t a fan. No spoilers though!

I do have to admit that I was a fan of Hal Steen and his partner Jen Walsh are two characters you kind of fall in love with almost immediately, at least I did. You have Hal; older and slightly rough around the edges cop who prides himself on being one-step ahead in the investigation and to play things extremely intelligently. He kind of plays his cards close to his chest, but he’s an absolutely gem of a character! His partner Jen is a younger cop who is bright, compassionate, sweet and full of gumption. She follows Hal’s lead, but it almost seems like they know what the other is thinking when it’s required, they play off of one another in a sense. And the slight romantic attraction between the two was adorable, kind of lightened things up a bit. But these two definitely have their hands full with this investigation; it becomes more twisted, tangled and complex as the days go by.

The conclusion is captivating to be sure and truly comes together beautifully. Let’s just say everyone got their just desserts.

I thoroughly enjoyed it none the less, and would recommend, but it’s not five Baci for me due to the fact that it was a fairly slow start at the beginning of the book. But I will definitely have to read more from Gilly Macmillan! Have to thank my cousin for lending me this read, so thank you!

Next review is a kind of a set of novels, a prequel and sequel which I’m excited to write. So please keep an eye out!

Hope you enjoyed and I’m currently reading The Countess by Rebecca Johns & The Graveyard Shift by Maria Lewis.

Hope you enjoyed the review!

Ciao!!

Posted in Thrillers

Drowned

Posted on by Mama

Original post from my Mom blog here – https://mamaonthemove1.wordpress.com/2024/10/09/book-review-drowned/

Title: Drowned


Author: Therese Bohman


Genre: Fiction, Thriller


Number of Pages: 217


My Rating: 💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Marina has left behind her stalled relationship and floundering academic career in Stockholm and travels to rural Skåne to visit her sister, Stella. They haven’t seen each other in some time and Stella now lives with a much older, quite famous author, Gabriel. The couple resides in a beautiful old house full of books, gorgeous flowers and, as Marina soon learns, plenty of secrets. Despite herself, Marina becomes more and more enthralled by the enigmatic and unpredictable Gabriel even as she becomes convinced that something isn’t right about her sister’s new love.

Set in the idyllic countryside during a fleeting Swedish summer and autumn, nothing is as it seems in this spellbinding novel of psychological suspense. Combining hothouse sensuality with ice-cold fear on every page, Drowned heralds the emergence of a major new talent on the international scene.


My Thoughts:

I was sucked into the novel almost instantly, reading the first 50 or so pages with ease. The story was intriguing from the start; the sisterly dynamic, the mysterious famous boyfriend, the loss of interest Marina was battling with her academics and all wrapped up in the beautiful country side in Sweden. How could you not be enthralled?

As the book progressed, though I was still reading with ease, but it started to dwindle my interest slightly. The best way I could describe it is, if you’ve ever watched a tea kettle begin to boil and then you pull it off the burner before it begins to whistle. It’s mildly disappointing when you get to the peak and it just….stops.

I won’t spoil anything but the relationship dynamics were interesting, somewhat realistic to a degree, especially that of Stella and Marina and of Stella and Gabriel. You never really know what’s occurring in a romantic relationship behind closed doors. But the story took a turn for the boring and frankly, almost abusive in the second act. The mystery of Stella wasn’t fully solved and it only hinted, strongly, that Gabriel had a hand in it. But you kind of have to make your own conclusions and assumptions about that and his past.

Marina, Stella’s younger sister, who the book’s perspective is set, seems lost in her life. She craves romance, confidence and to be something or someone better. She admired her sister and looked up to her quite a lot. However, it begs the question if she herself wanted to step into her sister’s life and not live her own. Gabriel gladly obliges by giving her the attention she desires.

The descriptions of the scenery, florals and everything in between was spectacular, however the ending was, let’s just say, boring and lack-lustre at best. To me it felt like it was missing something, more substance, but it just ends abruptly.

It was translated from Swedish, so it was kind of funny when I would see grammatical errors, or at least I thought so, but that was rare. If you want a quick read, it’s something to get through in about a day or two, I’m a slow reader though. It’s good for what it was, but I’ll be passing this one along.

FYI, I shelved Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman for the time being. I was struggling with the writing style, but enjoy the story. I just needed a break.

Up next is The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan!

Hope you enjoyed the review!

Ciao!!