Category: Thiller / Suspense

The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz

On By TracyIn Contemporary, Mystery, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Thiller / Suspense, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Shop on Hidden LaneThe Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone with Ties to Fogg Lake

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Sophy Harper is a librarian and a psychic with a gift for reading crime scenes and cleaning up residual energy. She is often called in to help the police solve crimes and helps loved ones get answers, but she never expected to have to use her talents to help her own family. But that is exactly what happened when she is paired up with Luke Wells and learns that her aunt Bea and his uncle Deke have been secretly engaged in an affair and have now gone missing. Luke needs her help to find their missing relatives and to uphold the pact that their families made four decades ago before they had a huge falling out.

Sophy and Luke with the help of Luke’s hellhound Bruce, follow the clues left for them and soon realize that something bigger is at play here that just finding Bea and Deke. They will each have to face their own demons and bond together to not only find their relatives, but to save humanity! Falling in love was never part of the plan, but it may be the reward, if they survive.

I loved this well-written, nicely paced book and I was hooked from the very first page! I was captivated by the instant tension and chemistry between Luke and Sophy. This story had a bit of everything; mystery, a family feud, paranormal abilities, witty banter, a bit of steam, a very special dog, murder, psychic energy, multiple villains, more than one twist and great ending with closure and hints of future stories. If you enjoy a paranormal mystery with a bit of steam, you should definitely check out this book!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Made You Look by Tanya Grant

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Contemporary, First Person Narrative, Mystery, New To Me Author, Standalone Title, Thiller / Suspense, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Made You LookMade You Look by Tanya Grant

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: November 18, 2025

The story follows a group of social media influencers—Sydney, Caitlyn, Lucy, Jeff, Nash, and Brent— who are trapped by a snowstorm at a resort in the isolated, snowy Catskills of New York and cut off from the outside world. As the magnitude of their situation kicks in, a killer emerges, turning their retreat into a fight for survival. The characters, though distinct on paper, often felt shallow and interchangeable, with most of their decisions lacking believability. The story shifts between multiple points of view, but Lucy is the only character that I felt offers occasional depth through her cancer survival experience.

The novel blends influencer drama with classic locked-room mystery elements. I was all set to enjoy a nail-biting, edge of my seat thriller and ultimately ended up a bit disappointed. While the premise is promising and the setting atmospheric, the pacing falters and suspense dissipates midway through the book as the story began focusing more on interpersonal drama than danger. Plot twists vary in effectiveness, and the ending resolves the mystery without major surprises. In addition, the writing features first person narrative from a multi-character POV, which is hard to follow at times and makes the story feel repetitive. I think this book may appeal to younger readers who are fans of influencer culture, but for me it fell short as a gripping thriller.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *