2018 is a banner blue-ribbon kind of year for the psychological suspense novel! I have repeatedly been blown away by the outstanding books released this year. It is only July and look at this long list! Just click the title link for my review.
TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER: My 2018 Twistalicious Faves (so far…)
Lying in Wait is possibly…the best of the best. Liz Nugent is my new obsession. An Irish writer that may take her place beside my queen, Gillian Flynn, on the dark throne of twisted fiction.
Something in the Water is my surprise favorite! Sometimes when an actress or someone NOT in the writing profession throws their hat in the ring with their own novel -I confess to reading it just to see if it’s a train wreck. No ma’am. Catherine Steadman is a pro.
Believe Me is another surprise, only because I was making a snap judgement based on his previous novel which featured an outrageous plot. Believe Me is still out there, but J.P. Delaney cloaks it in a dark, seductive writing style and sells it big time. A deliciously unreliable narrator playing cat and mouse with her untrustworthy lover.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway came as a big relief! Ruth Ware is one of the very best literary-style writers working today, yet I was unable to rate any of her previous books very high. They always seem to miss the mark for me. This gothic mystery featuring an old-fashioned mistaken identity plot is right on target.
You Were Made for This tells the story of a young couple in love and so happily raising their new baby. NOT REALLY… I LIED… Nothing is what it seems at first glance in this contemporary, addictive page-turner! A stunning novel by Michelle Sacks.
The Perfect Nanny is a deep character analysis of a seemingly ordinary woman that commits the ultimate betrayal. Truly spine-tingling reading from French bestselling author, Leila Slimani.
Tangerine is a delectable treat! It’s a female take on The Talented Mr. Ripley and set in the dreamy Moroccan desert. A story of obsessive friendship between two women. Oh, yes, and a murder. An impressive debut novel by Christine Mangan.
The Wife is a perfect blend of police procedural and courtroom drama resting on a perfectly unreliable narrator’s shoulders. Alafair Burke, attorney and writer, is an exceptional author–I’m thrilled to have found her!
All the Beautiful Lies is Peter Swanson’s latest novel of strong and twisted characters. Taboo-crossing, tantalizing and sensational. You can never go wrong with Swanson.
The Flight Attendant grabbed me from the beginning with a binge-drinking, self-loathing main character who finds herself waking up with a dead guy in her bed. Chris Bohjalian has created an old-fashioned thriller featuring a messed-up heroine with a heart of gold.
Force of Nature from Jane Harper features one of the most memorable leading men in recent fiction, Aaron Falk. This time he leaves the Australian desert for the outback wilderness to hunt down a missing executive. Another atmospheric winner from Harper.
The Wife Between Us was the first book I got absolutely delirious over this year. The best quality lies in the ingenious way it’s structured, so innovative! The very definition of a TWIST!
The Chalk Man is a playful, scary novel with a Stranger Things cast of little friends pedaling their bikes into places they shouldn’t. C.J. Tudor is one of my fave new authors to watch.
The Last Time I Lied is campy, great fun. I almost felt like I was with the Scooby-doo gang helping to solve a murder mystery. Riley Sager has a fixation on 80’s horror films that shows in his fabulous novels.
Let Me Lie is the latest offering from the tornado goddess herself, Clare Mackintosh. A wonderful writer, Mackintosh can a spin a twisty mystery like no one else. This one had me second and third guessing all the way!
Now, please enjoy your twisted novels….. Let me know what you think!
Some of these will def be added to my tbr list!
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Yay! Happy summer reading💕
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Lying in Wait is top of my most twistiest novels, probably ever!
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Yeah, it may take the no. 1 spot for me, too! thanks, Gem!!
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I’m excited to read all of the ones I haven’t yet! Thank you Jewels for your twistiest book list 2018!
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awww thanks so much, Anne! happy reading!
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Seriously, have you been reading my mind? Ha! I’ve been looking for a list just like this, and here you are! I LOVED Jane Harper and Peter Swanson and The Wife Between Us. And the Ruth Ware Is in my current pile. Have you read The Woman In The Window?
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Lol Lorna! Thanks! I’m so happy you can use the list!! Yeah —I was not as big a fan of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW😕 I posted 3⭐️ review on GR
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As soon as I asked, I was like, of course! Sorry. Like reading your GR as well. You’re a book legend. 🙂
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Aww thank you for your support Lorna!
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Excellent post, Jewels! I love the main picture.
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Thanks friend😊😊😊
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Great list! I want to read a lot of these! 🤗
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Yay! I love each one- hope you do too, Nicole!!
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Love this post my favourite kind of books – have you read Behind Her Eyes? Best and biggest twist I’ve ever read!!!
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Thanks Abby!! Yes I was shocked by that book – but not in a good way😲. I’m in the opposite camp on that one😉
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Ah really – yes, I do know lots of people didn’t like it! 😊
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I felt like that was such a fake device used to tie up an impossible mystery. Unfair to the reader- even though I was totally sucked into the story
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I loved The Wife Between Us and hope to get to Tangerine this year! It looks like I may need to add a few others also ❤
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Haha yes! Thanks Danielle- hope you enjoy!
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Excellent list, Jewels!!! Some amazing books on here and a few I haven’t read yet!
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Some are on my list to read, a couple I wasn’t a fan of…but I think I’m becoming moody about twists lol.
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haha I know what you mean!
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I’m glad to see the Death of Mrs. Westaway on this list because I am looking forward to reading it!
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Just know that it is a slow burn –it cannot be rushed!
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I have read so many of these and you are right about all of them! Lying In Wait was particularly good!
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Isn’t it the weirdest craziest story?!?
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I have read all but 3 on your list! This has been a fabulous year for the thriller!
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Yes! And so many I’ve not read yet! Thanks for commenting Katherine 💗
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Adding all of these to my list! xx
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Yassssssssss! Happy reading🙌💗
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I agree these books are the most twisted novels of 2018. Some I have read and the others you have listed are on my to buy list. There’s nothing like a good book with twists.
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I agree with you🙌😘
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You Were Made for This definitely has a place on my TBR now! It sounds deliciously twisty
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It’s the twistiest 😘
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