Heartbreaker by Jude O’Reilly #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the gripping new thriller by Jude O’Reilly, Heartbreaker.

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A mother under attack.

Three years ago, Daphne Monroe woke up to find her family had been murdered while she slept. To the police, she’s the prime suspect. To the world, she’s a monster. To the killer, she’s the next victim on a blood-soaked list.

A killer on the move.

Now he’s back to finish what he started – and Daphne should be running for her life. Instead, she’s trying to make a sense of a tangled web of medical obession, organ donation, and a young girl’s murder.

Nothing to lose.

Three years ago, the serial killer destroyed her life and broke her heart. Now, Daphne wants justice for her murdered children and she’ll stop at nothing to get it.

But the killer is closing in. And Daphne Monroe is out of time…

MY THOUGHTS

Heartbreaker, the new thriller by Jude O’Reilly, explores a really scary premise. We meet Daphne, who has suffered a horrific tragedy after her husband and children were killed. Daphne herself was considered the main suspect in the eyes of the public and the police, despite her categorically denying her involvement in the murders. Daphne is determined to find out who killed her family, but she has no idea where her search for answers will lead her, and the dark and dangerous world she is about to uncover.

I really liked Daphne and connected to her straight away. She has suffered more than most people have, and on top of losing her family, in the opening chapters, her father, who she dearly loves, also passes away. Her father’s death strengthens her resolve to get justice for her husband and her children. Getting justice for them is the only thing keeping her going.

The tension is excellent throughout this book. Daphne’s story really drew me in, especially as she connects with the family of a woman whose heart Daphne received in an organ transplant several years earlier. It is clear to see the pain the woman’s family is feeling on the page as Daphne meets with them, but what is even more shocking to Daphne is that she soon learns their daughter was murdered. Daphne has always thought that the murder of her family is linked to her heart transplant, even though the transplant took place ten years earlier. When she learns the news of what happened to the woman whose heart she received, it seems to strengthen this belief.

Daphne is a character who I really cared for. I couldn’t believe how she had been treated following the death of her family by the police and members of the public. I was rooting for her to get the answers she desperately craved, and I was so intrigued by the many different layers Jude O’Reilly explored. This is definitely one of the most original thrillers I’ve read recently. I really enjoyed it.

Publisher: Pellerin Books

Publication date: 19th May 2026

Print length: 294 pages

Heartbreaker is available to buy:

Amazon UK

The Wicked Girls by Roz Watkins #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new thriller by Roz Watkins, The Wicked Girls.

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A BIZARRE SERIES OF DEATHS

In the Cornish village of Peneerie, a tragedy is unfolding. Girls are dying on their seventeenth birthdays and no one can explain why. Some say it’s a curse; others a psychological phenomenon known as suicide contagion. What Kat knows is her daughter Ruby’s birthday is fast approaching.

A CURSE AWOKEN

Villagers talk anxiously of Eliza, a serving girl in the local manor house who took her own life on her seventeenth birthday nearly two hundred years ago. She cursed the girls of the village to never see womanhood.

A MOTHER PREPARED TO DO ANYTHING

Kat is determined that Ruby won’t be the next to die, by any means necessary. As she races to unravel Eliza’s Curse, Kat will have to confront the ghosts of the past and shocking truths about the world she lives in. But how far will she go to protect her daughter? And what will it cost to break the cycle of tragedy before it’s too late?

MY THOUGHTS

The Wicked Girls is the tense new novel by Roz Watkins. Set in a small village in Cornwall, the novel opens with a horrific scene when a young girl, who has just turned seventeen, plunges to her death after falling from a cliff edge, in front of the mother of one of her school friends. The young girl’s death shocks everyone, but the most shocking thing is that she will not be the first girl to die. The deaths might be linked to an ancient curse that all local girls will die on their seventeenth birthday, and it’s soon feared that history might be about to repeat itself, as something very similar took place centuries ago.

It is clear to see how much the fear grips the locals. Kat, the main character, is little a less inclined to believe in the supernatural. But this doesn’t stop her from becoming fiercely protective and worried for her daughter, Ruby, who is due to turn seventeen. Even though Kat is sceptical about the idea of the curse, especially when her mother starts getting involved with her own psychic predictions, she’s determined to stop Ruby from suffering from the same fate as her friend. I could really feel Kat’s love for her daughter, and I rooted for her throughout the novel.

Roz Watkins brilliantly built a creepy atmosphere around the old house, where the curse is said to have originated. It felt as though something evil was at work here. This created a real sense of danger. I loved how isolated the house felt, which added even more to the supernatural elements and the suspense. This was built on further with the addition of the doll a group of friends, which included Ruby, found there.

The atmosphere of The Wicked Girls kept me hooked as I waited to find out if the curse would take another victim. I wondered if something more was going on here. There is a chilling finale that brings a satisfying end to the mystery. This novel is perfect with spooky season just around the corner.

Publisher: HQ

Publication date: 10th September 2026

Print length: 432 pages

The Wicked Girls is available to buy:

Amazon UK Waterstones

The Weekend by T.M. Logan #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new thriller by T.M. Logan, The Weekend.

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Six friends. Five secrets. One holiday to die for . . .
Welcome to THE WEEKEND.

When a group of friends rent a converted farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales, they have little idea that this one weekend may change the course of their lives forever.

While out on a walk, a storm descends and the friends take shelter in the mouth of an old lead mine. Inside, they discover a backpack filled with more money than they’ve ever seen.

Of course, they agree, they will hand the money to the police at the first opportunity. But as the storm continues and time passes, some of the party begin to think again. Because there are secrets festering at the heart of this group. Debt. Obsession. A career on the brink. Problems that could be solved instantly with an unexpected windfall.

And perhaps they don’t know each other as well as thought they did.

MY THOUGHTS

What would you do if you found a bag full of money? This is the question that faces the characters in T.M. Logan’s latest thriller, The Weekend. A group of friends are in Yorkshire for New Year’s Eve, renting a house, when they stumble across this extraordinary find whilst sheltering in a cave from a storm. Most people who read this book will be wondering what they would do in this situation. I think many people would secretly want to keep the money, especially when the amount found is revealed. But as the friends try to work out what to do, cracks in their friendships start to form.

It was really tense when the characters were deciding what to do with the money. There were some, among the group, who wanted to do the right thing and hand it over to the police, but others who thought the money was rightfully theirs to keep. T.M. Logan continues to turn the tension up a notch, especially as the friends try to work out where the money came from and if keeping it would pose a danger.

There is a real sense of danger as the stakes for the characters get higher, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page. The tension really builds as the book races towards the end, and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen to the characters. I think after reading this book, many people will reevaluate what decision they would make if they were in this situation.

The Weekend really is a whirlwind of a read, and the tension never lets up. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication date: 16th July 2026

Print length: 432 pages

The Weekend is available to buy:

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Split Second by R.C. Bridgestock #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new novel by R.C. Bridgestock, Split Second as part of the blog tour. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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What if one moment – one split second – changed everything?

When a firearms officer shoots a suspect dead and wounds another, who later dies in hospital, the official line is that the sun was in her eyes. Her body cam failed. Known only as Officer X, her anonymity is meant to protect her – until a judge releases her name and a media storm erupts.

Detective Superintendent Jack Dylan and DI Charley Mann are called in to determine whether it was a justifiable use of force – or something darker. And when it’s revealed that Officer X knew the victim, and her brother died of a drug overdose linked to the same woman, the case becomes charged with personal and political tension.

As pressure mounts, a vulnerable witness dies and a lost phone surfaces with a photograph and a message that could unravel everything – and reveal the truth about what happened that day.

Split Second brings Dylan and Mann together for the first time, in an investigation that will test their instincts, their loyalties and the limits of justice itself, as both detectives must decide how far they’ll go – and what they’re willing to sacrifice – to uncover the truth.

MY THOUGHTS

Split Second by R.C. Bridgestock is the first novel by this author I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In Split Second, the authors have crafted a tense, utterly compelling mystery, exploring themes that are unfortunately very much at the forefront of people’s minds in today’s world.

The opening scene is shocking, and I really liked how R.C. Bridgestock told it from the point of view of two children skiving off school, who are terrified of being caught if they were to tell anyone about what they saw. They witness a horrific incident when a police officer opens fire on a suspect in a vehicle, which ends up with the suspect’s death. This does mirror awful events that have taken place across the world in recent years, but in this book, R.C. Bridgestock tells the story from the point of view of the police officer who commits the act, which I thought was a brilliant way to tell it.

As the investigation into the incident gets underway, it soon becomes clear that this is a much more complex case than it first seems. It was fascinating to get an insight into the mind of the officer, Abi, who is accused, and just how terrified she is at the prospect of going to prison and of her identity being released to the public. It is all too clear to see from recent events how scary this can be, and this raises the stakes throughout the novel. This is what makes this story so intense, as it races towards the trial and the ultimate decision of whether Abi is guilty or not guilty of the crime she’s accused of.

I think this is a novel which will leave many readers wondering how they would’ve reacted if they were in this position of the police officer accused. I think we have all been in a position where we have misjudged something, but in the case of a police officer, holding a firearm there are surely very few who have experienced this. But the feeling of what I would have done is the same, and it really does make Split Second such a gripping read.

There is a real, authentic feeling to this book, and R.C. Bridgestock did a brilliant job of keeping me engaged and wanting to find out what would ultimately happen. I really enjoyed it.

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 27th August 2026

Print length 366 pages

Split Second is available to buy:

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Ghost Notes by Doug Johnstone #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new novel by Doug Johnstone, Ghost Notes as part of the blog tour. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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The Skelf women have been keeping their heads down, running the family’s funeral directors and private investigation businesses. But when a woman collapses at her husband’s funeral and is saved by Dorothy, she finds herself drawn into the murky world of ‘grief tech’ – a booming new industry that creates digital avatars of the dead.

Jenny’s latest case – a simple blackmail job for an old school friend – quickly spirals into chaos as the woman’s tangled love life pulls Jenny towards dangerous old habits. 

Meanwhile, Hannah and her wife, Indy, are confronted by the unexpected arrival of Indy’s ex-boyfriend, claiming to be dying and eager for the Skelfs to arrange his funeral. But his arrival uncovers more ghosts from the past, and threatens to upend everything they’ve built.

As their cases collide and their personal lives spiral, the Skelfs face danger from all sides. How far will they go to protect one another, and what will it cost to finally silence the ghosts? 

Warm, tense and full of heart, Ghost Notes is another masterful instalment in Doug Johnstone’s award-winning, addictive Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever…

MY THOUGHTS

I always get excited whenever a new book in the Skelf series by Doug Johnstone comes out, and it seems that trouble is never far from the Skelf women. The latest book in the series is Ghost Notes, and Doug Johnstone does a brilliant job of taking us on a journey with the characters.

Dorothy is the character we meet first when, during a funeral, the deceased’s widow collapses, and Jenny helps to save her. But Dorothy is then forced into helping the woman investigate her husband’s death. This is where the idea of grief technology comes in, which is an extremely chilling and scary idea, particularly with the advances in AI in recent years. As Doug Johnstone explores this, it turns very creepy. It does provide a worrying glimpse into the future.

Jenny is who we get the most insight into in this book. She is a person who has gone through a lot in her life, and her struggles really come through, particularly with alcoholism. I really did feel for her, and it feels like, even though she is taking steps forward in her life, particularly with her new partner, she also appears to take some steps back. The scenes told from her point of view were really compelling. I love how Doug Johnstone made her feel even richer and well-rounded in Ghost Notes, adding even more depth to her character.

Hannah and her wife, Indy, also go on their own journey, especially after they are contacted by Indy’s former partner, who wants the Skelfs to arrange his funeral, which Indy isn’t best pleased about. But the more they get involved with him, the deeper they sink into the murky world he is a part of, which lands them in extreme danger.

Doug Johsntone is a writer who knows how to get right under a character’s skin. He shines a spotlight on all the women in the Skelf family in Ghost Notes. This has made Ghost Notes one of my favourite books in this series to date. He has always had a real talent for creating characters with real emotional depth, and this novel is another shining example. Fans of the Skelf women will absolutely love it, and if you haven’t discovered this series, I urge you to read these books. You will not look back.

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 13th August 2026

Print length: 276 pages

Ghost Notes is available to buy:

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The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m sharing my review of The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood as part of the blog tour. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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DCI Jack Parker is BACK…

Death is stalking the streets of Newcastle. An anonymous killer is offering the terminally ill a dignified escape. Mercy to some. Murder to others.

KILLER

DCI Jack Parker doesn’t want the case. He has a secret of his own – an early-onset dementia diagnosis he’s desperate to conceal. But the signs are becoming impossible to ignore. As his mind begins to betray him, the city faces its own moral reckoning.

OR

While politicians debate a contentious new law and the self-styled Angel of Death selects another victim, Jack’s world is shaken when the killings are traced to a carers’ support group – one his wife, Helen, has been attending in secret.

SAINT

Yet his deepest fear is also his darkest temptation. Because when his disease becomes unbearable, Jack can’t escape one haunting question:

Could the Angel of Death be the saviour he’s been waiting for?

MY THOUGHTS

The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood is a book I think will provoke a lot of discussion, especially given the recent news about the assisted dying bill. In his latest crime novel, Trevor Wood casts a light on this deeply controversial topic, but he’s also created an utterly gripping crime thriller. I really enjoyed getting to know his cast of characters.

Trevor Wood opens the novel in a compelling way. A young man reports his mother’s murder to the police two months after she died, which is unusual in itself. This gives rise to the thinking that perhaps there is someone assisting people with their deaths, people who have terminal illnesses. As the news of this story breaks and more potential victims come forward, the perpetrator is given the name The Angel of Death. This certainly begins to cause alarm within the police force and the public, but Trevor Wood also tells parts of the story from the perspective of The Angel of Death himself. He is almost portrayed as an anti-hero, someone who can be sympathetic, easy to talk to, especially for the people he is helping. It does make him almost likeable. But in the eyes of the law, he is still committing a crime.

DCI Jack Ryan, the lead character in this book, was fascinating to get to know. I haven’t read the first two books in this series, but I had no difficulty in getting into this book. I really liked how open he was about his diagnosis of early-onset dementia, which brought out admirable qualities in him. I also really liked DS Emma Steel, who certainly seems very formidable and who knows what she wants to achieve.

Trevor Wood wrapped everything up in a tense and gripping finale. I can’t wait to come back to these characters. Hopefully there will be many more books to come; Trevor Wood has definitely left The Angel of Death on an ending that’s left me desperate for more.

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 16th July 2026

Print length: 300 pages

The Angel of Death is available to buy:

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The Mermaid’s Cry by Kate Rhodes #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new novel in the Detective Ben Kitto series by Kate Rhodes, The Mermaid’s Cry as part of the blog tour. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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DI BEN KITTO RETURNS…

A COAST IN CELEBRATION

When DI Ben Kitto sees a baby thrown into Penzance harbour, he prays it’s a trick of the light. But the threat is real. The child survives – barely – and soon a chilling pattern emerges. As the Dark Sky Festival brings dancers, dreamers and stargazers to Cornwall’s coast, children begin to vanish.

A KILLER IN THE CROWD

A small mermaid figurine is found beside each scene, echoing the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, who lured a man to his death beneath the waves. Still reeling from a devastating bereavement and determined to protect his young son, Ben is pulled back into the field and into a deadly investigation. When the killer’s messages begin arriving at his home, the threat becomes terrifyingly personal.

A FINAL RECKONING

Suspicions fall on familiar faces. When the summer solstice approaches, Ben must confront the boundaries of love, loss and obsession. In a final, desperate chase along the headland, only his bond with Noah – and the loyalty of his dog, Shadow – can prevent tragedy from repeating itself.

MY THOUGHTS

I don’t think the opening of a book has left me as devastated as The Mermaid’s Cry did when we reconnect once more with Kate Rhodes character, DI Ben Kitto. It is very difficult to talk about this section of the book without giving away spoilers, but I couldn’t not talk about how shocked it left me.

There is a supernatural edge to this book that Kate Rhodes brings to life, particularly through the legend of the mermaid. In the opening, a baby is thrown into the sea, and Ben dives in to rescue the baby. He soon finds himself becoming a major part of the investigation, despite having recently given up his job as a police officer. The crime is horrific, and it definitely gets the local residents talking and demanding action to catch the person who did this. Ben’s actions make him a hero to the locals, even though he certainly doesn’t want any praise or attention. This adds to the already dark tone, and the crime gives the sense that the police are up against someone whose moves could be very unpredictable. The police are definitely in a race against time to stop the crime from happening again. It was really intriguing hearing from the perpetrator’s perspective. Kate Rhodes did a brilliant job of putting a spotlight on their motives and revealing what sort of person they are.

Kate Rhodes continues to develop Ben’s character in this book. I definitely thought, at the end of the last book, that I had a clear idea of where his journey was going to take him next, but now I am not so sure. It certainly does put a fresh spin on this series, but it is one, I think, that will divide long-time fans.

The Mermaid’s Cry has shifted this series in a new direction, and I, for one, am definitely intrigued to find out what becomes of Ben next. It is a haunting, atmospheric read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 16th July 2026

Print length: 276 pages

The Mermaid’s Cry is available to buy:

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Never To Be Found by Jo Spain #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m taking part in the blog tour for the new thriller by Jo Spain, Never To Be Found. With thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me to take part.

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She helped him disappear.
She’ll wish she hadn’t . . .

In Japan, one hundred thousand people voluntarily disappear every year, aided by those who help them start over. They call them Johatsu – the evaporated.

I brought the idea to England. No judgement, no questions. Just new identities, packed bags, and discreet escape plans from abusive partners, debt, or simply lives that no longer fit.

I thought I was doing something good – honourable, even. Until now.

I know now that not everyone is fleeing hardship. I’ve helped someone who committed a crime to flee the police. I’ve disappeared a murderer.

And unless I find him, I don’t know what he’ll do next . . .

MY THOUGHTS

Never To Be Found by Jo Spain explores a really unique and fascinating subject that I haven’t come across before reading this novel. We are introduced to Veronica, whose job it is to help people disappear, a career she discovered in Japan many years earlier. Veronica has helped lots of people disappear. She never normally thinks about her clients once their business is completed, but now, she may have helped the wrong person disappear, and this may have disastrous consequences for her.

I was really intrigued by Veronica, her backstory, and how she had come to this point in her life. She makes for a really unique character, and her job is what makes this novel feel fresh. Although she does see this as her business, there are people who she’s helped who she genuinely cares about, and their personal reasons for wanting to disappear are what make Veronica all the more determined to help them.

Everything changes for Veronica when a police officer turns up on her doorstop, asking for information about a person she has recently helped disappear. Whilst Veronica is reluctant to help, she is almost bullied into assisting the detective in his investigation. Very soon, though, she begins to question everything about what she does and is devastated by the impact of what she’s done. I thought it was really interesting how Jo Spain developed Veronica’s character, especially how Jo delved into Veronica’s own past, where it’s revealed how she came into this line of work.

There are definitely a couple of big twists in this book, and it is so clear to see the impact they have on the characters, especially Veronica. Jo Spain has crafted a really intense finale as Veronica’s journey comes to a conclusion. If you’re looking for a twisty, fresh read in the psychological thriller genre, then I highly recommend Never To Be Found.

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication date: 2nd July 2026

Print length: 416 pages

Never To Be Found is available to buy:

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From the Shadows by G.R. Halliday #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on From the Shadows by G.R. Halliday as part of the blog tour. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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Seven days. Four deaths. One chance to catch a killer.

Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again.

The discovery of a body on the coast of the Scottish Highlands plunges Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy into a murder investigation that won’t begin and end with one death.

Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Nichol has been missing for seven days. His last message was to social worker Michael, who can’t quite shake the suspicion that something is terribly wrong.

As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.

MY THOUGHTS

From the Shadows by G.R. Halliday is a really dark, intense thriller. I think the opening scene has to be one of the most chilling I’ve read, and that image, right at the end of it, has stayed with me. We are introduced to a brilliant new detective in Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy, and she is facing one of the toughest and most frightening cases of her career.

The new investigation Monica is facing starts with the shocking and brutal murder of a teenage boy. From the outset, it is very clear to see that they are facing a sadistic killer. But from very early on in this case, suspects do begin to emerge, and one person is presented as an equally chilling prospect. G.R. Halliday has created a manipulative character here, and it is quite clear that they enjoy playing games with the police; the more time Monica spent with them, the more worried I was for her. I didn’t want her, or anyone else, anywhere near this person. But this, as well, does an excellent job of creating a creepy, chilling atmosphere. There are some really creepy scenes as well, told from the perspective of ‘The Watcher,’ which added a real sense of dread.

I loved the Highlands setting, and G.R. Halliday did a brilliant job of making me feel like I was there. It is a part of the world that I loved visiting in the past, particularly Loch Ness, and G.R. Halliday captures the atmosphere really well.

Not long after the discovery of the body of the teenage boy, another boy is found dead, prompting the police to believe they are dealing with a potential serial killer. And their worst fears are realised when a third boy also goes missing. Monica and her team, including the boy’s social worker, Michael Bach, now find themselves in a race against time to find him before he, too, meets the same fate. The tension really turns up a notch here, and I was turning the pages faster and faster.

From the Shadows is a brilliant introduction to DI Monica Kennedy, and I will definitely be reading book two in the series as soon as I can. I highly recommend it.

Publisher: Point Blank

Publication date: 2nd July 2026

Print length: 432 pages

From the Shadows is available to buy:

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How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today I’m sharing my thoughts on How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield as part of the blog tour. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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Emma Sharp knows the rules of survival. From being raised by a doomsday-fearing father and hardened by the startup world, she has learned how to endure – especially in her marriage to Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who keeps her under tight control. To Emma, her marriage is a cage: it keeps you in, but it also keeps you safe. Until it doesn’t.

When Emma forms an unexpected bond with Logan’s former girlfriend, the two women form a plan to help Emma reclaim her life. Destination: the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail.

After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.

As the three venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost . . . or found.

MY THOUGHTS

I love a thriller set in an isolated setting, and How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield fits that bill exactly. The novel opens in a really alarming way with such a strong opening line. I knew I had to find out more about the main character, Emma and see how her journey was going to progress further. Kat Rosenfield then takes us forward a few months to a point where Emma’s life seems to have changed for the better; she’s married and has put the part of her life that the novel opened with behind her. But it appears that her relationship with her new husband, Logan, may not be quite what it seems.

There is a real creepy atmosphere right throughout this book, and it felt especially claustrophobic as Emma, Logan and Emma’s friend, Taylor, begin a hiking trail. Emma was previously warned by people she knew about marrying Logan, especially when they raised concerns about the way Logan talks to her. But to Emma, Logan represents safety and security, and this is why she is reluctant to leave him. I thought Emma’s conversations with Taylor during the first part of their hike were quite open, and I thought their dialogue did a good job of revealing a lot about their characters.

The darkness really does begin to creep into this book, especially as the hike gets further underway, and the deeper into the wilderness they travel. Emma, Logan and Taylor’s personalities come through well in Kat Rosenfield’s writing. I was never sure about who I could trust as I was reading, and the final chapters kept my eyes glued to the page.

If you love a chilling, dark thriller, How to Survive in the Woods definitely comes recommended from me.

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication date: 5th March 2026

Print length: 316 pages

How to Survive in the Woods is available to buy:

Amazon UK

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