Category: Thriller

Broke Road by Matthew Spencer

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Publisher: Allen & Unwin (Trade Paperback – 1 July 2025)

Series: Rose Riley – Book Two

Length: 389 pages

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Australian author Matthew Spencer presented one of the best Australian crime fiction reads of 2025 with his outstanding and deeply impressive sequel novel, Broke Road.

Back in 2022, I had the great pleasure of reading the fantastic debut novel of Australian journalist turned author Matthew Spencer, Black River.  Featuring a compelling crime fiction narrative about a mysterious series of deaths around the Sydney river system, Black River was a wonderful novel that ended up being one of my favourite debuts of 2022.  I had a lot of fun with Spencer’s first book, and I was very curious when I saw that he had a sequel coming out this year, Broke Road.  I made sure to grab a copy as soon as I could, and I ended up being blown away by how good this sequel was.

Plot Synopsis:

A late-night phone call is never good news for Homicide Detective Sergeant Rose Riley. This time she’s being sent up to the Hunter Valley, where a woman has been found dead in her home.

Rose grew up further along the valley. She knows that for every vineyard and golf course resort visited by tourists to the ‘wine country’ there are as many dilapidated fibro houses and drug dens, in the shadow of one of the state’s largest prisons.

A media hound points the finger at the husband, angering Rose but capturing the attention of journalist turned true crime author Adam Bowman. His book on the ‘Blue Moon Killer’ made him famous but the case nearly cost Rose her life, and she’s not sure how she feels about seeing him again.

Suspects abound, from the grieving husband to sinister business interests and suspicious locals. But when new evidence connects the crime to an old case, Rose realises they have no time to lose. The murderer is ready to strike again.

Broke Road was an amazing new novel from Matthew Spencer, who really impresses with this second outing, producing a complex and gritty Australian crime fiction narrative that really draws you in.  Intense, clever and featuring some likeable characters, Broke Road ended up being an incredible sequel to the author’s first book, and it was one that I deeply enjoyed.

Spencer made some very interesting narrative choices that worked extremely well to tell an elaborate and deeply personal crime fiction story.  Set after the climatic events of Black River, the novel initially follows main protagonist, Detective Sergeant Rose Bailey, as she travels to investigate a brutal murder of a married woman with connections to a successful local winery.  Transferring this book from the urban streets of Sydney to the iconic Hunter Valley in rural New South Wales, Spencer provides a whole new feel to this sequel, which allows Broke Road to do its own thing.  Initially set up as a typical small-town Australian murder mystery, with Rose investigating first the victim’s husband and other members of the nearby town, things take an interesting twist when Black River’s other protagonist, reporter Adam Bowman, arrives in town to investigate the case.

What follows is a complex and deeply captivating mixture of story elements as the protagonists are forced to deal with their complicated feelings towards each other.  Simultaneously exploring the traumatic aftermath of the events of Black River while also seeing both main characters investigate the case in their own way, the plot of Broke Road becomes extremely addictive.  A lot of this is due to how the author expertly raises the stakes as the plot continues, with the several related murders across the country coming to light, hinting at a deadly and notably chilling predator stalking the Hunter Valley.  I really appreciated how the book’s story threads came together, and Spencer throws in various alternative motives, clever red herring and some great personal interactions in the lead-up to the conclusion.  The eventual big reveal in Broke Road’s finale was extremely well handled, with an exciting confrontation well mixed with all the author’s clever clues coming together.  Spencer ends everything on a great personal note, which ties everything up quite nicely and resulted in particularly outstanding narrative.

I felt that Broke Road was an outstanding novel in many ways, especially as it worked well as both a complex standalone crime novel and as a sequel to Spencer’s first book.  While any new reader can easily jump into Broke Road, Spencer works the fallout of Black River’s plot into both the plot and the protagonist’s character arcs, with both main characters still dealing with their trauma and leftover feelings.  This allows for a much more emotionally rich narrative, especially when tied into other character elements, such as Rose’s past connections to the area surrounding the murder scene.  Spencer cleverly chose to focus more on Rose in this sequel, allowing her to develop more as a character after spending much of the first book in Adam’s shadow.

Spencer also provides a very compelling change of scenery from his previous novel, taking the protagonists and readers into a much more rural setting.  Australia’s iconic Hunter Valley worked perfectly as a background to Spencer’s complex mystery, and the beautiful landscape, as well as its interesting mixture of inhabitants, added a lot to Broke Road’s impact and distinctive feel.  I also personally felt that Spencer provided a much more well-written novel with this sequel, which showcases his growth from the first book.  While the author does maintain his series’ grim tone, especially when it comes to the very disturbing killer, the story in this sequel was a lot sharper and the character arcs managed to hit a little harder.  I also think that the author brought all the story elements together a bit more concisely in the finale, allowing for a much more enjoyable journey to the end of the book.  All this really highlighted Spencer’s great development as a writer, and it will be interesting to see how he continues to improve going forward.

With some outstanding writing, clever storytelling and many grim murders, Broke Road was an exceptional book from Matthew Spencer, who really showcased his writing ability with this book.  An amazing sequel that also stands on its own feet, Broke Road is guaranteed to hook you early, and it was easily one of the best Australian crime fiction novels of 2025.

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Quick Review – An Ethical Guide to Murder by Jenny Morris

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Quick Review, Thriller1 Comment

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (ebook – 16 January 2025)

Series: Standalone/Book One

Length: 400 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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In the mood for a curious crime fiction read with a clever philosophical edge?  Then make sure to read the outstanding 2025 debut, An Ethical Guide to Murder by new author Jenny Morris.

Plot Synopsis:

How to Kill Your Family meets The Power in this entertaining and thought-provoking read, that asks:

If you had the power between life and death, what would you do?

Thea has a secret.

She can tell how long someone has left to live just by touching them.

Not only that, but she can transfer life from one person to another – something she finds out the hard way when her best friend Ruth suffers a fatal head injury on a night out.

Desperate to save her, Thea touches the arm of the man responsible when he comes to check if Ruth is all right. As Ruth comes to, the man quietly slumps to the ground, dead.

Thea realises that she has a godlike power: but despite deciding to use her ability for good, she can’t help but sometimes use it for her own benefit.

Boss annoying her at work? She can take some life from them and give it as a tip to her masseuse for a great job.

Creating an ‘Ethical Guide to Murder’ helps Thea to focus her new-found skills.

But as she embarks on her mission to punish the wicked and give the deserving more time, she finds that it isn’t as simple as she first thought.

How can she really know who deserves to die, and can she figure out her own rules before Ruth’s borrowed time runs out?

Early last year I had the very great pleasure of reading Jenny Morris’s very first novel, An Ethical Guide to Murder.  This excellent book featured a compelling plot focused on a protagonist Thea, with the ability to transfer life between one person to another.  After accidentally fatally utilising this power to save her friend, Thea soon finds herself tempted to tip scales between life and death to make a better world.  Working with an ambitious love interest, Thea soon sets up her own Ethical Guide to Murder and begins to target those she believes to be truly wicked.  However, not everything is as it seems, especially when Thea comes face to face with the consequences of her actions, and the dark side of choosing who gets to life and who gets to die.  The resulting personal conflicts with those closest to her, followed by shocking revelations about those she has placed her faith in, will push her over the edge especially when she comes face to face with the person responsible for ruining her life.

I really enjoyed the unique story that Morris came up with for An Ethical Guide to Murder, which proves very easy to get addicted to.  Morris does a good job setting the scene for Thea’s unique abilities in the first part of the book, as well as her stressful life and the people around her.  The transition towards a secret, life-taking vigilante is well written, especially with the inclusion of a seemingly noble love interest with his own plans for her abilities, and the reader is poised to support Thea with her plans.

The last half of the book continues this story in a fantastic manner, while also adding in some strong philosophical and ethical elements, as Thea finds herself torn about whether she was ever doing the right thing.  The resulting battle of morals, especially as Thea also finds herself under investigation and forced to try and contend with true evil closer to home, allows for some deep and heartfelt moments in the book, until you honestly don’t know what the right course of action is for Thea anymore.  Everything wraps up on a heartfelt note, as the protagonist comes to terms with their powers in their own way, while also addressing all their personal problems.  I think Morris’s strong choice of ending for An Ethical Guide to Murder fit the rest of the narrative extremely well, and you come away from this book very thoughtful and appreciative of Morris’s dive into her protagonist’s psyche, and the fantastic discussion about the value of life and the impact of those who misuse it.

Overall, An Ethical Guide to Murder was a very strong debut that I was glad I got the chance to read last year.  Clever, thought-provoking, and filled with some strong characters, An Ethical Guide to Murder was an outstanding read that is worth checking out.

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Hotel Lucky Seven by Kotaro Isaka

On By The Unseen LibraryIn English Translation, Thriller2 Comments

Publisher: Harvill Secker (Trade Paperback – 12 November 2025)

English Translation: Brian Bergstrom

Series: Hitman – Book Four 

Length: 291 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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One of Japan’s most entertaining thriller authors, Kotaro Isaka, presents a great new entry in his shared crime fiction universe, with the wonderfully unhinged and entertaining Hotel Lucky Seven.

Kotaro Isaka is an amazing author who has dominated the Japanese crime fiction scene for years, thanks to his amazing and over-the-top thrillers that are filled with distinctive characters and entertaining narratives.  In recent years, Isaka has gained more of a Western following as several of his books have been translated and released in English.  This includes his best-known novel, Bullet Train, which was adapted into a particularly entertaining film with Brad Pitt a couple of years ago.  While I loved the film, I am also a major fan of the original Bullet Train novel, which is very different from its adaptation in its own awesome way.  Having really enjoyed Bullet Train when it came out, I’ve tried to read the other translated Isaka novels that have come out in his Hitman series, including the cool prequel novel Three Assassins.  While I did miss out on The Mantis, I made sure to grab a copy of Isaka’s latest book, Hotel Lucky Seven (released in Japan under the title 777).  Serving as a direct sequel to Bullet Train, Hotel Lucky Seven follows the terminally unlucky assassin Nanao, as he finds himself in a whole new mess.

Plot Synopsis:

A luxury hotel full of assassins – what could go wrong?

Nanao ‘the unluckiest assassin in the world’ has been hired to deliver a birthday present to a guest at a luxury Tokyo Hotel. It seems like a simple assignment but by the time he leaves the guest’s room one man is dead and more will soon follow. As events spiral out of control as it becomes clear several different killers, with varying missions, are all taking a stay in the hotel at the same time. And they’re all particularly interested in a young woman with a photographic memory, hiding out on one of the twenty floors.

Will Nanao find the truth about what’s going on? And will he check out alive?

In this original, gripping and inventive follow-up to the international bestseller Bullet Train, Kotaro Isaka demonstrates his unparalleled gift for unique characters and unexpected twists.

Hotel Lucky Seven was another very impressive outing from Isaka, as he once again wows with his outrageous array of assassins, fighting for their lives amongst a complex conspiracy narrative.  Slick, relentlessly entertaining and very addictive, Hotel Lucky Seven was an amazing read, and one that I powered through in less than a day.

Isaka created another very fun over-the-top story for Hotel Lucky Seven that quickly drags you in with its fantastic action.  Initially focusing on the main protagonist, Nanao, who has only recently recovered from his near-death experience on the deadly bullet train, the book sees the constantly unlucky character enter a hotel for a routine delivery, only to find himself in the middle of another quickly deteriorating situation.  Forced to kill someone while delivering a birthday present, Nanao soon find himself drawn into a larger confrontation involving Kamino, a young woman with an impressive memory, who is trying to escape her underworld boss.  Having accidently killed or incapacitated Kamino’s bodyguards while trying to flee the hotel to save his handler, Nanao soon finds himself reluctantly helping Kamino contend with a band of assassins known as the Six.  This proves to be a great central focus for Lucky Seven, which Isaka further enhances with intriguing chapters focused on other amusing characters like the killer team of Pillow and Blanket, two effective body removalists who are stalking the halls of the hotel on their own mission, as well as some interesting interludes around a famous politician in the restaurant who is being interviewed by an ambitious reporter.

These interlocking storylines come together nicely as the book continue, and I liked how well the various chapters flowed into each other.  Isaka keeps loading up the action as Nanao uses his unlikely combat skills against the various members of the slowly dwindling six as he desperately tries to escape the hotel.  After some very entertaining antics, as well as a couple of over-the-top deaths, the author sets up for the big conclusion, with the surviving characters coming together for a big confrontation.  While the story had been very fun, if relatively straightforward, up to this point, Isaka throws in an excellent twist that makes you re-evaluate the rest of the book.  There was a ton of great build-up throughout the entire story, with your perspective of one character completely changing in the best ways.  This really enhanced the overall impact of the entire story, and I came away very satisfied and intrigued by this impressive piece of Japanese fiction.

I really enjoyed the great style that Isaka utilised in Hotel Lucky Seven, which is reminiscent of the rest of the books in his Hitman series.  Made up of fast-paced chapters that switch between the several main characters, Isaka moves his exciting story along very effectively, quickly grabbing the reader’s attention with his complex characters, entertaining action, and great humour.  Serving as both an enjoyable sequel to Bullet Train and a fun standalone crime thriller, this is a very accessible novel for any reader to get into, even with its subtle yet noticeable Japanese aesthetics.  Indeed, I felt that Hotel Lucky Seven had more of a certain cinematic edge than Isaka’s previous novels, no doubt a result of the success he had with the Bullet Train film, and this help to make this book a lot easier to appreciate for new readers.  It also helped that some of the characters, such as killers known as the Six, would be fun to cast in a film adaptation, and the over-the-top figures terrorising a hotel with blowguns were particularly fun.

Speaking of awesome characters, I personally loved seeing the return of the unlucky killer Nanao, who was the best part of the original Bullet Train novel (where his role was a little less central than Brad Pitt’s in the film).  Serving much more a central role in this sequel, Nanao was the heart-and-soul of Hotel Lucky Seven, and it was very fun to see him continue to get in trouble while trying to do the right thing.  The rest of the characters are a little more serious, well as serious as people living in a world of killers can be, and I liked the certain philosophical edge that several of them had when it comes to their actions, especially the fun killer duo of Pillow and Blanket.  Throw in a couple of interesting additional villains, none of whom are really what they seem and who benefit from some layered backstories and misdirection with their intentions.  This extremely unique cast really fit the light-hearted vibe that Isaka loaded this excellent thriller with, and I had a wonderful time seeing their murderous antics and complex interactions unfold.

Overall, I had a wonderful time with Hotel Lucky Seven, which was one of the more entertaining and compelling thrillers I read last year.  A very worthy sequel to Bullet Train, Hotel Lucky Seven was another incredible read from Kotaro Isaka that will keep you hooked right to end with his awesome action, brilliant humour and fantastic storytelling.  It honestly will be interesting to see if Hotel Lucky Seven gets a film adaptation at some point, which honestly could turn into something very fun if they get a good cast for it.

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Quick Review – Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Quick Review, Thriller1 Comment

Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 14 October 2025)

Series: Standalone/Book One

Length: 340 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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The unique writing team of acclaimed author Harlan Coben and world-famous actress Reese Witherspoon present a compelling and very exciting thriller, with Gone Before Goodbye.

Gone Before Goodbye was a very interesting read, that caught my attention when it was first announced thanks to the combination of it being Reese Witherspoon’s debut novel, and my previous experiences with the always impressive Harlan Coben.  I have had a great time with some of Coben’s previous novels, including I Will Find You, Think Twice and Nobody’s Fool, so I was very curious to see how this book turned out.

Plot Synopsis:

Maggie McCabe is teetering on the brink.

A highly skilled and renowned Army combat surgeon, she has always lived life at the edge, where she could make the most impact. And it was all going to plan … until it wasn’t.

Upside down after a devastating series of tragedies leads to her medical license being revoked, Maggie has lost her purpose, but not her nerve or her passion. At her lowest point, she is thrown a lifeline by a former colleague, an elite plastic surgeon whose anonymous clientele demand the best care money can buy, as well as absolute discretion.

Halfway across the globe, sequestered in the lap of luxury and cutting-edge technology, one of the world’s most mysterious men requires unconventional medical assistance. Desperate, and one of the few surgeons in the world skilled enough to take this job, Maggie enters his realm of unspeakable opulence and fulfills her end of the agreement.

But when the patient suddenly disappears while still under her care, Maggie must become a fugitive herself—or she will be the next one who is … Gone Before Goodbye

Gone Before Goodbye proved to be an exciting and enjoyably fast-paced read that drags you in quickly thanks to its unique plot, multiple twists and compelling medical focus.  Starting off with some good introductions to the key characters and highly damaged protagonist, you are soon drawn into the damaged life of Maggie and the mysterious job she chooses to accept.  After some useful exposition sequences in the hidden Russian compound that help to highlight how far the protagonist is out of her depth, things inevitably go downhill, and Maggie is forced to flee with the help of some unexpected allies.

What follows is a quick paced sequence of events across the world as Maggie and her family attempt to uncover the dark conspiracy that has been woven around them.  The authors do a good job of tying the current events of the book into Maggie’s complex past, including the death of her husband and their controversial medical company, and the various threads come together nicely as Gone Before Goodbye nears it ends, with lots of action and character growth thrown in for good measure.  The dramatic conclusion wraps things up nicely, and I especially loved the fantastic final twist, which was a particularly dark, but clever, way to end this entire novel.

This book comes together quite nicely, and you can really see the interesting combination of styles between Coben and Witherspoon here.  The fast-paced, character-focused storytelling, loaded with sudden twists, thrilling action and complex dramatic moments is classic Coben, who endeavours to quickly grab the reader’s attention and hook them early.  On the other hand, the inclusion of a strong military doctor protagonist is clearly Witherspoon referencing her parents, and I liked how this new author utilised something close to her and her family in her very first novel.  The resulting medical scenes are some of the best parts of the book, especially as the authors endeavoured to provide some detailed realism to the resulting sequences, and I enjoyed how they tied into Gone Before Goodbye’s larger narrative.

Gone Before Goodbye is further enhanced by some excellent and distinctive characters, including the damaged protagonist, some fun villainous figures, and the very entertaining biker character Porkchop, Maggie’s father-in-law who steals the show with every scene he’s in.  I did think that Gone Before Goodbye did come off a little too cinematic at times, and you can tell that the authors are thinking ahead to the inevitable television adaptation, especially with memorable characters like Porkchop.  Still, this cinematic forethought doesn’t take the reader too much out of the story, and the resulting book is a compelling thriller that is a lot of fun to get through.

The team of Harlan Coben and the debuting Reese Witherspoon’s first outing was an amazing success as Gone Before Goodbye was an entertaining and captivating thriller read that will appeal to a lot of readers.  Clever, twisty and filled with some great characters, Gone Before Goodbye was a ton of fun to get through, and I cannot wait to see what both authors have to write going forward, either by themselves or as a very distinctive team.

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Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

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Publisher: Doubleday (Trade Paperback – 2 December 2025)

Series: Standalone/Book One

Length: 275 pages

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

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First-time author Marisa Kashino provides one of the more entertaining and devious debuts of 2025, with the wonderfully twisted and deeply addictive novel Best Offer Wins.

Plot Synopsis:

How far would you go to get the perfect home?

There was a time when Margo thought she knew. But that was before a soul-destroying eighteen months of house-hunting hell.

Now she’s not sure. Her life, her marriage, her family, her career are dangerously out of control and all she needs is a new home to get them all back on track.

So when the ideal house comes up, desperate measures are called for. A little online stalking. Some sneaky surveillance of the property in question. Befriending the owner. All reasonable enough, right?

But soon it’s clear that nothing is off limits, because when your best offer might not win, then you just need to do what it takes…

Best Offer Wins was an outstanding and captivating debut novel that dives into a very relatable topic in the most insane way possible.  Perfectly encapsulating the dark side of desire and desperation, Best Offer Wins was an impressive first outing from Kashino, who crafted an excellent thriller narrative that is both twisted and hilarious in equal measure.

I loved the crazy crime fiction story that Kashino envisioned for Best Offer Wins, which keeps pushing its delightfully deranged protagonist over the edge and dragging the reader along.  The book starts off quick and fast with a great introduction to main character Margo, and you are soon drawn into her desperate desire to break into Washington D. C.’s housing market.  Finding the perfect house, Margo attempts to ingratiate herself with its current owners, only to face backlash and humiliation when her scheme is revealed.  Still desperate to obtain the house, Margo takes her obsession to the new level and soon embarks on a campaign to find dirt on the current owners and force them to sell to her.

Kashino paints a fantastic picture of the protagonist’s overwhelming obsession at this point of the book, as her need to have the house and the perfect life it represents pushes her to take greater risks to get what she wants.  You honestly don’t know just how far Margo will go, as she manipulates, lies and even resorts to blackmail to get what she wants.  Things continue to further devolve as, after finding out some damaging truths, she decides to go all in to get her way, which has devastating results for everyone around her.  I loved how this final third of Best Offer Wins comes together in a way which is so fantastically over-the-top and crazy.  While I did see the shape of Best Offer Wins’ big twist in advance, getting there is so damn fun, as is the full extent of the protagonist’s plot.  I really loved how well Kashino wrapped her compelling book up, especially as she leaves the book on an excellent dark note, and readers will come away very satisfied and entertained by the entire outrageous narrative.

I have to say that I was really impressed with Kashino’s writing ability in Best Offer Wins, considering that this was her very first book.  The author debuted a crisp and engaging style in this novel, expertly utilising the first-person perspective of her slowly deteriorating protagonist to fully tell her tale.  The author cleverly makes obsession and desperation the central themes for Best Offer Wins, which works as they are so relatable to the reader through the housing market aspect of the novel.  I’m sure I’m not the only reader that struggled with house hunting in recent years, and while I personally never resorted to murder or blackmail (I can’t speak for my wife/editor though), the feelings of despair and loss that accompanied missing out on a house your heart is set on were very understandable.  Utilising the emotions behind this real-world issue in the plot and then turning it into a fast-paced and relentlessly entertaining novel that keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat thanks to perfectly escalating series of events really showcased Kashino’s excellent writing talent, and the resulting narrative was something very special.  I can think of a better way to highlight just how well written this book is than to reveal that I read it in one solid reading session, as there was honestly not a single moment when I wanted to put Best Offer Wins down.

I can’t move away from discussing how good Best Offer Wins was without mentioning the main character, Margo, who was simultaneously one of the most entertaining and most despicable protagonists of 2025.  Starting off as a seemingly normal figure whose early unusual quirks and behaviours can be explained away by her depression over the housing market, you soon begin to realise that Margo really isn’t a good person.  Not only does she quickly start pushing the boundaries of social norms when it comes to getting her dream house, but thanks to her narration of events you realise how little she thinks of the people around her.  Her casual self-discussion about how she manipulates her husband and the clear distain she has for the other people in her life is very off-putting, and even some intriguing insights into her troubled childhood that explain her obsessions really don’t raise too much sympathy for the reader.  Despite this, there is never a single moment where you consider turning away from Margo’s story, mainly because of just how entertaining she is, and due to how far she is willing to take things, uncaring of the impact it has on those around her.  Margo’s story is essentially a slow-motion trainwreck, and you really can’t turn away as she goes further and further to get the house she wants.  However, as you near the end of the book you begin to realise just how calculating and targeted the protagonist truly is, as Margo soon gets everything she wants in a particularly diabolic manner.  I had such a brilliant time following Margo in this novel, and Kashino did an amazing job writing an outstanding story around this complex and twisted protagonist.

Overall, I felt that Best Offer Wins was a particularly incredible debut thriller from Marisa Kashino, who delivered something particularly special here.  Combining a twisted narrative with a topic a lot of people are going to have strong feelings about; Best Offer Wins was a highly entertaining and powerful read from start to finish.  Compelling, clever, and very deranged, Best Offer Wins hooked me so damn fast, and I cannot recommend this novel enough.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an outstanding upcoming thriller filled with weird science and outrageous themes with the very cool sounding Paradox by the father/daughter team of Douglas and Aletheia Preston

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Back in 2024 I had the very great pleasure of reading my very first novel from Douglas Preston with the outstanding novel Extinction.  A fantastic thriller that saw two very different cops try to solve a bloody disappearance that took place in an exclusive mountain resort filled with genetically modified clones of mammoths and other pre-historic creatures, Extinction was a very fun book packed full of over-the-top twists and some very chaotic moments.  Thanks to Preston’s impressive and action-packed story, that featured murderous neanderthal clones amongst other entertaining moments, Extinction proved to be an extremely captivating and addictive read that I powered through so very quickly.

The awesome and frankly insane Extinction made me a big fan of Preston, and I’ve been trying out some of his other cool releases, including the amazing thriller Badlands, that Preston wrote with his long-time collaborator Lincoln Child.  However, I’ve always been curious to see if the somewhat open-ended narrative of Extinction could be expanded on, especially with the murderous neanderthals now out in the wild, filled with vengeful thoughts about homo sapiens destroying their species.  Well it turns out that Preston was also curious to see where his story to go, as we have a sequel to Extinction coming out soon with the very intriguing sounding Paradox.

Serving as the second book in the Cash & Colcord series, Paradox will see Preston bring on his daughter Aletheia as a writing partner, as he follows the protagonists from the first book into a new investigation, while the genetic consequences of the first book continue to lurk in the shadows.  I love the sound of this awesome sequel, and if it is anywhere near as epic and excessive as the first book in the series was, then I know I’m going to love it.  As such, I have very high hopes for Paradox, and I feel like it is going to be a particularly enjoyable read.

Plot Synopsis:

The new powerhouse team of Douglas Preston & Aletheia Preston are joining together to “enter the world” of the New York Times bestselling Extinction.

One of the holiest relics in Christendom, inexplicably defaced…

A paranoid old prospector, ritualistically murdered…

A controversial exobiologist, tortured and dismembered…

When a reclusive man is found dead under grisly circumstances in the Colorado wilderness, CBI Agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord, whom we met in the New York Times bestseller, Extinction, team up again on their most enigmatic and dangerous case yet. Their investigation uncovers a trail of bizarre killings, baffling money transfers, and a fanatical secret society.

And all the while, the resurrected Neanderthals, who vanished into the Colorado mountains, seem to be biding their time for something…spectacular.

The Final Vow by M. W. Craven

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Publisher: Constable (Trade Paperback – 12 August 2025)

Series: Washington Poe – Book Seven

Length: 390 pages

My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

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One of world’s most outrageous and entertaining thriller writers, M. W. Craven, continues one of his best series in impressive fashion with The Final Vow, a captivating and highly addictive novel that I couldn’t get enough of.

M. W. Craven is an outstanding author who has written a truly interesting array of thrillers throughout his career. This includes his original Avison Fluke series, as well as the great action-focused Ben Koenig series, the latter of which I have deeply enjoyed in recent years thanks to amazing books like Fearless and Nobody’s Hero. However, his main body of work is his excellent Washington Poe series that started back in 2018 with The Puppet Show.  Following a grumpy but skilled detective who gets partnered with a brilliant prodigy to solve the country’s most complex crimes, the Washington Poe novels are quite exceptional.  I personally fell in love with the series when I read the dark and intense novel, The Mercy Chair.  A particularly clever read loaded with an overabundance of well-thought-out twists, The Mercy Chair was an exceptional read, and it ended up being one of my favourite books of 2024.  As such, I have been quite eager to continue the Washington Poe books, and the seventh entry in the series, The Final Vow, was one of my most anticipated books of 2025.

The people of England are living in a constant state of terror.  A murderous sniper is stalking the nation, shooting people at random and leaving no evidence behind.  This brutal shooter has so far killed over a dozen people throughout various parts of the country, never missing and always killing those who least expect it.  With the entire population locked down and hiding in their homes, the police and government are  so desperate for results that they turn to the unconventional team of Detective Sergeant Washington Poe and his genius partner Tilly Bradshaw.

After their last major case saw Poe reassigned to the worst position in UK law enforcement, and Bradshaw snapped up by the country’s intelligence services, the two seem like an unlikely choice to save the day.  But with the help of their squad leader, Detective Chief Inspector Stephanie Flynn, there is no duo who stands a better chance of finding a killer who seems to strike completely at random.

However, as Poe and Bradshaw begin their investigation, they find themselves tracking a particularly skilled and deadly killer seemingly capable of countering all their moves.  Forced to rely on unconventional methods and Bradshaw’s out-of-the-box conclusions, the duo soon finds themselves narrowing in on the shooter and identifying his sinister motives.  But identifying the killer and capturing him are two very different things, and if they want to take him down, Poe knows he’ll have to make things personal, no matter what it costs him.

Craven continues to showcase why he is one of the world’s best rising thriller authors, as The Final Vow was a particularly powerful and impressive read that I had such a brilliant time with.  Featuring a deeply compelling story, loaded with unique characters, complex motivations, and fitted with the author’s slick humour, The Final Vow was an incredible read from start to finish.  I flew through this book in less than a day, it was that damn good, and I’m still thinking about its cool twists and reveals.

The Final Vow proved to be an extremely entertaining read, and it had one of the more unique and memorable thriller narratives of 2025.  Starting off with a dark hint of events to come, Craven soon perfectly sets the terrifying scene for the novel, with the country shuttered by fear thanks to a deadly sniper.  With the government desperate to stop the killing, they reluctantly bring back Detective Sergeant Washington Poe, whose reintroduction here was particularly entertaining and does a good job highlighting his unorthodox style.  Once again teaming up with anti-social genius Tilly Bradshaw, Poe and his other police colleagues begin their unique investigation into the crime.  Using some very interesting tactics while the body count from the sniper continues to rise, Poe and Bradshaw are soon able to determine the killer’s focus, which allows them to identify who the shooter is.  However, uncovering their target’s skills, background and outrageously over-the-top motive completely changes the entire story, and forces the protagonists into a particularly deadly hunt.

Craven keeps up the intensity and complexity of the plot into the second half of The Final Vow, as Poe uses his new information to try and find the killer.  However, after some very tense scenes and some surprising tragedy, Poe decides on a risky gambit, and makes the killer very angry by publicly humiliating him in a glorious scene.  This results in an interesting final third of The Final Vow, which goes in some dark directions, while also setting up for a big final confrontation.  I must admit that while I did enjoy how this final third of the book came about, I saw the author’s big twist coming from a mile away, which removed a lot of the emotional impact Craven was hoping for.  Still, it was very entertaining and compelling to see this twist play out the way it did, especially as Craven also utilised an extended sequence showcasing the background behind the twist.  While this behind-the-scenes section of The Final Vow is a little self-indulgent, it does provide some interesting context and entertaining character interactions, while also showcasing how easy it is to control public perception.  This leads up to a heartfelt final sequence of the book, which is a nice reward after the very dark narrative that makes up most of The Final Vow, and readers will come away from this book very entertained and extremely satisfied.

The Final Vow proved to be another awesome read from Craven, who manages to ensure that this book is somehow simultaneously dark and thrilling while also being highly entertaining and a little light-hearted.  The entire set-up for The Final Vow is extremely shocking, with a calculating sniper killing seemingly at random, and creating a palpable atmosphere of fear across the entire country.  The tension and terror that inhabit the scenes where the killer strikes are quite exceptional, as is the impact his shots have on the witnesses and the public.  However, Craven matches this excellent tension with the outrageous and over-the-top, both in the actions of the protagonists and in the crazy motivation of the antagonist, which alters much of The Final Vow’s underlying feel, turning it into quite a zany book at times.  This underlying lightness does disappear at key moments, especially when the antagonist strikes at the main character’s heart, and there are some dark sequences throughout that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats.  Combine that with Craven’s constant fast-paced revelations, clever investigation elements and great character work, and The Final Vow turns into quite an addictive read where you never know what is going to happen next.

Despite being the seventh book in the Washington Poe series, The Final Vow works well as a standalone novel, which is how Craven generally intends his novels to be enjoyed.  New readers can easily jump into The Final Vow with no prior knowledge of Craven’s previous works and still get swept up in his entertaining storytelling, and this is a very fun author to read for the first time.  While a great standalone novel, established fans of Craven and this series will probably get a little more out of The Final Vow, mainly because those readers will have a little more knowledge of the damaged protagonists, and the established relationships that they have.  Watching these character elements, especially between Poe and Tilly, continue in this new novel hit a little harder if you’re already familiar with it, especially during some of the darker moments of the plot.  Craven also makes some compelling references to the previous novel in the series, The Mercy Chair, throughout The Final Vow, including the utilisation of a very distinctive character from this earlier book, who has a great Hannibal Lecter inspired role in the plot.  I felt this character’s inclusion was very fun, and readers familiar with their interactions with Poe in The Mercy Chair will appreciate how they continue to be used here.  Throw in the utilisation of a character from another one of the author’s series, and The Final Vow is a book that Craven fans are going to have a lot of fun with, while still appealing to a wider audience.

The characters of The Final Vow were also a great highlight of this novel, and I loved how entertaining and outrageous they are at times.  The continued antics of maverick cop Washington Poe and his unlikely offsider and best friend Tilly Bradshaw result in most of the book’s fantastic humour, especially when the characters are forced to interact with police and characters unfamiliar with their style.  However, I really do have to highlight the antagonist of The Final Vow as my favourite character of the book.  The deadly sniper who has single-handedly terrorised England with their killings works well as a fantastic villain for Poe and Bradshaw, especially as you quickly become aware of how clever and deadly they are, and they prove to be a great equal to the protagonists.  However, it is their underlying motivations that really showcase just how despicable they are as a villain.  While I don’t want to give too much away here, as discovering their motivations is such a fantastic part of the experience of The Final Vow, the sheer pettiness behind their actions really goes to showcase just how twisted and dark they really are.  Combine that with their desire for revenge at any perceived sleight, and the lengths they will go to destroy their opponent, and this killer truly is an outstanding villain for the narrative, who you can’t help but be impressed with.  This great combination of wacky protagonists, an over-the-top antagonist, and an excellent collection of supporting characters, including some recurring figures from the previous books in the series, and The Final Vow’s cast added a lot to the overall impact of the book, and it is going to be interesting to see where some of these characters go next.

M. W. Craven continues to shine as one of the more inventive and entertaining thriller writers currently release awesome tales. His latest novel, The Final Vow, was a particularly fun and exciting read, that perfectly combines its tense and deadly narrative, with the fun antics of its outrageous cast. I powered through The Final Vow in no time at all, and this was such a great novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers.  I cannot wait to get my hands on the next Washington Poe novel later this year, and I’m sure it’s going to be another exceptional read.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Thriller, Waiting on WednesdayLeave a comment

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I check out an outstanding upcoming Australian crime fiction read with Redbelly Crossing by the always awesome Candice Fox.

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I’m always down for an epic crime fiction read from a talented local author, and few Australian authors have been as consistently impressive with their thrillers and murder mysteries then Candice Fox.  Currently one of Australia’s top authors of the genre, Fox has been on a roll in recent years, providing a range of excellent novels, from complex American thrillers like The Chase, Devil’s Kitchen and Fire With Fire, to unique Australian outback thrillers such as High Wire.  She has also continued her exciting partnership with the legendary James Patterson, with some recent releases including 2 Sisters Detective Agency, 2 Sisters Murder Investigations and The Murder Inn.  All these books have been a ton of fun to get through, and I always make sure to keep an eye out for anything new from Fox, especially as it’s likely to be a guaranteed hit.

For 2026 it looks like Fox will be returning to Australian outback thriller fiction, with Redbelly Crossing, an intriguing, character-focused novel with a lot of interesting potential behind it.  Set for release in late March 2026, Redbelly Crossing will follow two estranged cop brothers who are assigned to the same murder case in small-town, outback Australia.  Fox looks set to combine a compelling mystery with some intense character moments, as these two damaged police protagonists are forced to work together.  I cannot wait to see what dark family secrets and historical wounds are reopened as the story continues, and it should provide a particularly dramatic backdrop to an intriguing outback mystery.  Combine that with Fox’s exciting and fast-paced writing style and Redbelly Crossing looks set to be a particularly awesome piece of Australian fiction coming out in early 2026, and it’s one I cannot wait to check out.

Plot Synopsis:

Blood is thicker than water. But too much leaves a trail . . .

Russell and Evan Powder are cops.

The brothers haven’t spoken for five years, since a violent confrontation tore their family apart.

Now they are both assigned to the murder of a young journalist, Chloe Lutz, in the small town of Redbelly Crossing (population 205).

It’s the last thing Russell wants. This is supposed to be the week he repairs things with his teenage daughter Bridie. Now he’s had to drag her on a murderous ride-along to the middle of snake-infested nowhere.

But a big case like this is just what Evan needs after a terrible mistake nearly tanked his career.

Then a dark discovery leaves Evan with only one way out; to bury the truth Russell is so determined to uncover …

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Five-Star Books, Thriller2 Comments

Publisher: Allen & Unwin (Trade Paperback – 21 October 2025)

Series: Lincoln Lawyer – Book Eight

Length: 389 pages

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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The always outstanding Michael Connelly continues to showcase his ability to hit all the crime fiction sub-genres with another wonderful and deeply compelling legal thriller, the new Lincoln Lawyer novel The Proving Ground.

2025 proved to be another outstanding year for acclaimed crime fiction author Michael Connelly, as he not only introduced a new protagonist in his fantastic novel Nightshade (one of my favourite books from the first half of 2025), but he also continued his very entertaining Lincoln Lawyer series with the amazing book, The Proving Ground.  Entries in the Lincoln Lawyer series, which has previously featured such awesome books as The Law of Innocence and Resurrection Walk, are always a guaranteed fun read, and I was excited for The Proving Ground for a while, especially as it had a very intriguing plot.

Plot Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly, the Lincoln Lawyer is back with a case against an AI company whose product may have been responsible for the murder of a young girl.

Mickey Haller has moved from criminal to civil court, but murder remains in his sights—in particular, the case of a chatbot encouraging the killing of a teenage girl.

Mickey files a civil lawsuit against the artificial intelligence company responsible for the chatbot and instantly finds himself on the wild frontier of the billion-dollar AI industry. Grappling with a terrifying lack of regulation and data overload, Haller partners with journalist Jack McEvoy. But they are up against mega-forces, and even the bravest whistleblower faces grave danger.

In 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue defeated chess master Garry Kasparov with an unexpected gambit. In a Herculean new match of man vs machine, can Haller pull off a winning play for humanity?

The Proving Ground was a very impressive new novel from Connelly that cleverly set his most entertaining protagonist against a complex real-world issue.  Featuring an intense and extremely thought-provoking narrative, The Proving Ground was an addictive read, and I easily got swept up in Connelly’s latest captivating tale.

Connelly pulled together an excellent and clever narrative for The Proving Ground, which quickly throws readers into the legal action and ensures you become engulfed in the complex case.  Starting off in the early stages of the case, the author soon introduces you to the latest lawsuit protagonist Mickey Haller is engaged in, suing a major artificial intelligence company, for the encouraging actions of its teenage-focused chatbot.  From there you watch as Mickey and his team, which now also features another major Connelly protagonist, Jack McEvoy (from The Poet, The Scarecrow and Fair Warning), attempt to pull together a suitable case of culpability against the company.  At the same time, Haller continues to try and find redemption by getting a dying former client released from prison.  There is also a dive into the protagonist’s personal life, with a returning love interest once again causing drama in his life after a major real-world natural disaster.

The main plot moves at a fast pace as it focuses on the case, with Mickey dealing with various pitfalls, traps and the machinations of his opponents to try and win the trial.  Connelly keeps the intensity of these proceedings at a high boil the entire way through the book, and there is barely a slow moment in The Proving Ground as the protagonist utilises his trademark tricks, unique arguments and clever legal surprises to make ground.  The personal nature of the case, as well as the dark implications around AI, make for very dramatic reading, and I honestly could not stop reading The Proving Ground at times, as I was very eager to see how everything came together.  Connelly also got the balance right between the main case, and the side stories, with the primary focus on the AI trial proving to be a real winner.  Everything comes to a very dramatic head towards the end of the novel where, after the near destruction of Haller’s case, the protagonist engages in his final clever gambit.  I really loved how this main trial came together, and while it did end a little too suddenly, I appreciated that Connelly was trying to show some realism in how these sorts of legal cases usually go.  I also do think that Connelly could have ditched out the secondary storyline in The Proving Ground, but the attempt to show Haller’s continued growth did ensure it had its place.  Overall, this was quite a strong story, and I felt that The Proving Ground was an especially clever addition to the Lincoln Lawyer series.

I quite enjoyed how The Proving Ground came together, and Connelly worked hard to keep the book as captivating and emotionally charged as possible.  Featuring a particularly compelling central legal case that dives into a major real-world concern, The Proving Ground was an interesting transition away from the criminal cases that the Lincoln Lawyer series is known for.  Indeed, at times The Proving Ground felt more like a legal drama rather than a legal thriller, as there was lack of traditional criminals and high-stakes police elements that Connelly has previously featured.  Still, this was very much a highly exciting read, especially in the multiple cleverly constructed courtroom sequences, where the alternating legal strategies, arguments and growing antagonism between the rival lawyers, really dragged in the readers.  The excellent central focus on Haller as the first-person perspective protagonist added to the thrill of the plot, as you were constantly there when Haller encountered the many swerves and twists that defined the case.  While the tone of The Proving Ground was mostly serious, Connelly did add in some fantastic bursts of humour, which helped to remind the reader that this was a Lincoln Lawyer novel.  Much of this involved the over-the-top reactions that Haller’s opponents had to the protagonist’s strategies, but I also chuckled at some fantastic references and clever jokes added in throughout the book, especially those related to AI.  This ended up being an accessible standalone novel that will appeal both to general legal thriller enthusiasts, as well as established fans of Connelly, and I think most readers are going to have an outstanding time with this book.

One of my favourite aspects of The Proving Ground was the way that Connelly so effectively and cleverly examined and showcased real-world issues.  This primarily involves the central element of artificial intelligence, which the author uses to increase the stakes of the plot and ensure that readers are educated about a complex subject likely to impact them in the future, if it hasn’t already done so.  As part of this, Connelly dives into the whole concept of AI and its potential role in society in a notably detailed manner, examining its applications, its potential for harm, and how it will likely change the way people think and interact in the future.  This was a very well-balanced and thought-provoking look at a subject many people are worried in real life, and I felt that Connelly did an exceptional job examining it through a contemporary lens in this book.  Many of the conclusions about the potential for AI to be abused if not carefully regulated and tailored to its intended audiences was quite troubling, and the reader comes away really thinking about how AI is being used and where it could go from here.

Connelly also takes the opportunity with The Proving Ground to dive into some more recent world issues, notably those occurring in America.  The use of Los Angeles as the author’s preferred setting helped with this immensely, and there were some very interesting looks at how the city started to change in 2025.  The wildfires that hit the city early this year come into play in a big way during The Proving Ground, especially for some of the secondary storylines, and Connelly tried to capture the authentic fear, anger and despair that these events would have on people caught up in them.  This compelling dive into real-world events greatly enhanced the plot of The Proving Ground, and I was very impressed with how Connelly utilised them and portrayed them with his amazing writing.

The final element of The Proving Ground that I want to highlight is the great characters, who Connelly expertly writes and utilises in his compelling story.  Most prominent of these is the main point-of-view protagonist, Mickey Haller, whose continues to try to move away from the grubby world of criminal defence by focusing his practice on helping those in need.  This redemptive phase of Haller has been ongoing for the last couple of Lincoln Lawyer books, and I’ve enjoyed the character’s attempt at growth in his work, especially as it seems to confuse many of the other characters Haller interacts with, especially his legal opponents.  Haller’s attempts to also make up for the mistakes of his past, both in his relationships and his previous defeats, were also well explored in some of The Proving Ground’s secondary storylines, and I very much enjoyed the direction that Connelly continues to take with his high-flying lawyer protagonist.

Aside from Haller, The Proving Ground also follows a compelling group of characters involved with the main case, including the recurring members of Haller’s legal team.  While these characters aren’t explored as deeply in this novel as they are on the Netflix adaptation (an adaptation which is cheekily referred to in several books, including The Proving Ground), you still see some elements about how they are going and adapting to Haller’s change in legal clients and focus, with Cisco’s concerns about Haller not needing an investigator for his civil cases being a very interesting point.  I also quite enjoyed how Connelly crossed over this novel with another one of his major protagonists by bringing in reporter Jack McEvoy as a major supporting character.  McEvoy turned out to be an exceptional part of the book, especially as the concerns with AI really fit this character’s history of writing about controversial and potentially dangerous new technologies.  The interaction between Haller and McEvoy, two characters Connelly has developed apart, felt very natural, and I liked how well he fit in as a member of Haller’s team.  Throw in some other well-written and emotionally charged characters, including grieving parents, flawed and sometimes hostile witnesses, two entertainingly conniving antagonistic lawyers, and a particularly arrogant CEO, and the cast of The Proving Ground was quite exceptional, and you will love getting drawn into their personal struggles.

Michael Connelly produces another top crime fiction read with the wonderful and highly addictive legal novel, The Proving Ground.  An impressive continuation of the always entertaining Lincoln Lawyer series, The Proving Ground was an incredible read, and one that comes very highly recommended.  Due to how deeply compelling I found it, The Proving Ground gets a five-star rating from me, and I will be including it on my best of 2025 list later tonight.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Dark Sanctuary by Sarah Barrie

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Thriller2 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out an outstanding upcoming piece of Australian crime fiction with the intriguing thriller Dark Sanctuary by Sarah Barrie.

Over the past through years, one of my favourite Australian authors has been the impressive Sarah Barrie.  An author of excellent and compelling crime fiction with some truly dark twists to them, Barrie successfully enthralled me through her Lexi Winter series.  An excellent series, the Lexi Winter books followed a former vigilante hacker turned police officer as she attempts to bring down the worst criminals in Sydney, including the leader of a murderous paedophile ring who has a sinister connection to her.  This great series started with the amazing read, Unforgiven (one of my favourite Australian books of 2021), and continued with the excellent follow-ups Retribution (one of my favourite Australian books of 2022), Vendetta (one of my favourite Australian books of 2023), and Endgame one of my favourite Australian books of 2024).  All four books were quite exceptional, and it has made me very curious to see what sort of intense novel Barrie would write next.

Well, it looks like I’ll once again be able to enjoy the powerful and exciting writing of Barrie soon, as she has a new novel coming out in April 2026.  This new novel, Dark Sanctuary, looks set to be a particularly compelling read, as Barrie will balance several complex and dark character arcs as part of an intriguing crime fiction read.  I’m very curious to see how this awesome piece of Australian crime fiction comes together, especially as the awesome combination of storylines below has so much potential.  I have no doubt that Dark Sanctuary is going to be a particularly gripping read, and it is one of the Australian books I am most keen to read in 2026.

Plot Synopsis:

A mother’s worst fear, a killer on the loose, a darkness visible… A gripping page-turner for readers of Candice Fox and Karen Slaughter from an award-winning author.

Sergeant ‘Hex’ Rexford is the detective who caught the infamous serial killer Dr. Witcherton. Now, with a series of gruesome murders unfolding inside Coast Sanctuary – a hospital for the criminally insane – Witcherton claims to know who’s behind them. Hex takes the case, determined to uncover the truth, even as his own body is failing him.

Beth Thompson is desperate to keep her children safe. Her violent ex is stalking her, her son’s behaviour is growing strange, and his beloved teddy bear, Theo, might be more than just a toy. When an elderly woman offers Beth a remote cottage, it feels like a chance to breathe – but safety is an illusion.

Meanwhile, true crime podcasters Eve and Zane are chasing the story of the murders. But as Eve edges closer to the truth, the danger closes in.

As past and present collide, and the body count rises, the threads connecting them all begin to tighten – and something terrifying is watching from the dark.