Happy Friday!
Today in my blogmas 2025 I am talking about favorite crime/thriller/mystery! I read a lot of these and I chose three winners for you! All are amazing audiobooks and I really invite you to listen to these!
In no particular order we have:
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
5 stars
I was suspended to the narrator’s words all along!
How well do you know your husband? If he killed people, would you still believe he is good? And how long do you have to wait to move on? And if you don’t want to move on, do you have to feel guilty because you are still loving someone who is a murderer?
Famous Last Words was a fast paced and intense thriller that didn’t let me go before the last word with a great twist!
The execution was splendid as I really wondered if Camilla was delusional about Luke or if she was right to believe in him. And if she was right, why did he do it?
As the plot thickens, the tension rises too till the brilliant ending!
Character wise Gillian Mc Allister delves deep into her character’s psyche. Their inner thoughts, their hope, their trauma. It was extremely easy to walk into Camilla and even Niall’s shoes and to root for both all along.
I listened to that audiobook in record time as I simply HAD ro know what had happened!
The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan is an amazing first work!
5 stars
I want more from that author and from the narrator.
The book in one word: atmospheric
Narrator: flawless—made me want more from both the author and the voice.
The writing: gripping and evocative. Every word felt purposeful, drawing me deeper into the Appalachian fog.
The main character : relatable, real, determined and kind.
The setting : a secluded small town in the Appalachian Mountains where everybody knows everybody but do they really? The setting adds as much to the story as any character.
The story arc: a cold case. Three little girls disappeared ten years ago. One was returned. What happened to the others?
Who Should Read It?
Fans of atmospheric mysteries, small-town secrets, and character-driven crime fiction. If you love a setting so vivid it breathes and a cold case that won’t let go, this one is for you.
And another winner: We are all Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
Audiobook review — 5 stars
Narrator Kathleen Early : absolutely perfect for the story
This was my very first Karin Slaughter novel and I’m thrilled to say it won’t be my last. I picked We Are All Guilty Here because it was a Goodreads Awards finalist — and honestly, it deserves every bit of that spotlight.
What surprised (and delighted) me most was the dual timeline. The synopsis doesn’t hint at it, so discovering it as the story unfolded was such a clever, atmospheric treat. I won’t spoil anything, but that structure added depth, dread, and an emotional punch that never let up.
This is a thriller you cannot put down. The characters are deeply flawed, vividly human, and so well-drawn that I felt myself slipping into their shoes without effort. Karin Slaughter truly excels at crafting characters who are messy, damaged, and painfully real.
This thriller is gripping, brutal, emotional, and brilliantly plotted. It’s my first five-star read of November and the beginning of my new admiration for Karin Slaughter.
I dare you to stop reading. I couldn’t.
Have you read any of these?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
You convinced me to try Karen Slaughter, and I also want to read The Witch’s Orchard!
I know both will be a hit with you Tammy!
Impressive that you could get your list to three because you read a good number of thrillers.
I know! And to think that three years ago I didn’t use to read them anymore…