Sebastian Fitzek: Passenger 23

According to Passenger 23 (affiliate link), many people disappear from cruise ships every year. Is this true? According to the book's closing words, yes. The book also says that the most perfect way to commit suicide is to jump off the ship into the water. No mess, no body.

The main character of the book is police officer Matias Schwarz, whose wife and child disappeared while on a cruise many years ago. Now Matias is lured onto the ship to investigate a strange case in which a girl who disappeared from the ship and was thought to be dead has been found alive. What really happens on ocean liners around the world?

I like Sebastian Fitzek's writing style. His thrillers have really exciting events, unlike many others.

Warning: The subject of this book is revealed in the end to be so horrific that many readers will not be able to bear it.

Sandra Brown: Deadline

Star reporter Dawson has just returned from a war zone, traumatized, when his FBI agent godfather asks him to investigate a case he left unsolved. Of course, in doing so, Dawson also meets the woman of his dreams.

Sandra Brown, who writes romantic thrillers, is one of my favorite authors. There are few thrillers where I devour every word, but this is usually the case with Brown's books.

But not now. Deadline (affiliate link) started off sticky for me. Right at the beginning, it was hard to keep track of what and who, as if this was the second part of a book series and the first part had not been read. And there were also descriptions of things that didn't interest me at all, like a woman's beach day with her children. Uh, how does this advance the plot? Not at all. It's just trying to prove that this woman is a perfect mother. And a perfect woman?

But Sandra Brown can write. There are enough events. One plot twist completely surprised me.

 

 

Jessica Fellowes: The Mitford Murders

Jessica Fellowes' book The Mitford Murders (affiliate link) promises that Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie. As a (former?) Downton Abbey fan, I grabbed this book.

It's 1920. Florence Shore, a nurse who served in the war and Florence Nightingale's goddaughter, is killed on a train. Who is guilty? Poor Louisa sets out to solve the murder together with Nancy, the daughter of a rich family. Of course, incompetent police officers are also encountered along the way, and some romances are also set up.

If you're looking for a suspenseful and fast-paced thriller, this isn't it. The plot progresses really slowly. Even watching that famous paint dry would be more exciting.

I thought I had guessed the culprit and what happened too early, but I was at least partly wrong.

I always get annoyed when real people are used as characters in a fictional work, it should be prohibited by law. But even worse is to blame a real murder on the shoulders of a real person, even though that person was never actually suspected of the murder.

 

It was only afterwards that I realized that this book was the start of a series, so it's probably pointless to assume that the plot twists would be wrapped up in a pretty package. I don't plan on reading the next parts of the series.

 

Colleen Hoover: Verity

Verity (affiliate link) is the first book I read by the hugely popular Colleen Hoover. She usually writes romantic stories, but Verity is a thriller, or pretends to be one. 

Struggling author Lowen gets the chance of a lifetime to finish Verity's popular book series. Verity was badly injured in a car accident. To get started on her work, Lowen moves in with Verity's family to study her notes, but what does she find? 

I devoured the book a day, expecting the promised thrills and surprising plot twists, but they never came. So once again, a "thriller" without suspense. I guess it's my fault. 

This book is also being made into a movie.

 

 

WARNING!! 

 

PLOT SPOILER!! 

 

If you can't stand violence against children/babies, don't read this book!