Hey book friends! It’s Caitlin here with a January thriller book wrap up for you! Last month was a huge reading month for me, packed with thrillers, mysteries, and a few books that completely rocked my world—while others… well, let’s just say they didn’t quite make the cut.

I thought it’d be fun to do a recap where I give each book a yes, no, or maybe rating, along with a spoiler-free description and why it worked (or didn’t) for me. I also read some lit fic and romantasy this month, but today we’re focusing on the thrillers. Let’s dive in! Watch this as a video here on my BookTube if you’d like to see my dog’s cute face (and hot takes).

The Yeses

What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What Happened to Nina? was a five-star read for me and easily one of the most (freakishly!) realistic thrillers I’ve ever read in my LIFE. It follows Nina, a young woman who disappears after deciding to break up with her boyfriend. The story is told through multiple POVs—her family, her boyfriend’s family, and small town investigators—as they try to piece together what happened to her. You’ll never guess how it ends… OMG!

What I loved most about this book was how raw and real it felt. Nina felt like she could have been my sister, daughter, or best friend. It’s not just a mystery; it’s a heartbreaking exploration of relationships, grief, and justice that reminded me a lot of Beartown. If you’re looking for a thriller that will stick with you long after you finish, What Happened to Nina? is it. I also have a full video review of it below 🙂

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jennifer Hillier is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors. Her books are quite dark, but they’re also incredibly gripping. Little Secrets is about a mother whose her four-year-old son is kidnapped by someone dressed as Santa Clause in Pike Place Market in Seattle. A year and a half later, with no new leads, she’s spiraling—and then she discovers her husband is having an affair with a young art student (whose POV is also shared in the book). Secrets galore! Grab your popcorn! I ate this book UP.

Little Secrets is packed with twists, secrets, and some serious jaw-dropping moments. It’s the kind of thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end and then rocks your whole world. If you loved Jar of Hearts (also by Hillier), you’ll definitely want to pick this one up. Here’s a look at me gushing about it halfway through (no spoilers).

The Maybes

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re looking for thriller books similar to Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid series, you’ll definitely love The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding. It follows a woman who’s down on her luck—she’s lost her restaurant, is drowning in debt, and is living out of her car. One morning, she saves a rich woman trying to drown herself, and the two form an unlikely friendship. But things take a wild turn when the woman asks for help escaping her abusive husband….

While the first half of The Drowning Woman had me hooked, the second half felt like it went on forever with all the different parts that dragged on longer than necessary. I was already clocked out and just waiting to see if my predictions were correct 🤷‍♀️ To read it you like twisty plots & domestic drama (closed door spice). Sometimes it felt a bit cliche with all these villainous male characters and desperate damsels in distress *sigh* I’d categorize this thriller book as just a maybe for me!

Swallow the Ghost by Eugenie Montague

⭐️⭐️

Swallow the Ghost by Eugenie Montague is a new mystery thriller book that’s getting a lot of buzz in 2025 as an underrated gem. Told in several parts, the protagonist works in social media currently marketing a virtual mystery novel taking place on Twitter (what?) I found this part so confusing that’s when I started clocking out. The nail in the coffin for me with Swallow the Ghost was reading how abusive the FMC is towards herself. I just couldn’t vibe with the toxicity–even if I could tell the writing was skilled and I’d underlined some passages.

I also have a personal aversion to Groundhog Day-style stories, so that might’ve played a role. While I can appreciate the literary talent, this one just didn’t click with me this time. I might come back to it when I have more patience!

The Nos

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush

⭐️⭐️

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush was was one of my DNF (did not finish) thriller books in January. I’m not here to trash this book or anything, I just didn’t vibe with the story and passed it on to the next person at the library! It’s about twin sisters living in a rundown campsite in Tennessee, and one of them might be a serial killer. The story jumps between past and present, hinting at the sister’s violent history around girls. Despite the heavy foreboding vibes, I didn’t find the storyline (or setting) very gripping.

I gave up about a third of the way through When She Was Me because I just wasn’t invested or struck by the characters (shared twin sister POVs). I could be totally off-base here, but I felt like the book was hinting so hard that the twin sister was a killer that I just didn’t have the patience to find out if she really was one, or if it was just a case of the classic twin twist switch! That said, I know many readers have enjoyed this one, so it might work for you if you’re into twisty thriller books about sisters or twins.

The Expat by Hansen Shi

⭐️
Another DNF–no offense to the author or fans…

The Expat by Hansen Shi is an espionage thriller book follows a Chinese-American man who gets caught up in a honeypot scheme orchestrated by a mysterious (hot) woman from the dark web. While the premise had potential, I found the main character’s decisions frustrating (he’s supposed to be a genius but falls for obvious manipulation).

February Thriller Book TBR

Looking ahead, here are a few thrillers I’m excited to dive into this month:

You Are Fatally Invited

In You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego, an exclusive thriller writers’ retreat on a private island turns deadly when one of the authors is murdered. This locked-room mystery sounds right up my alley, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an ARC!

A Beautiful Way to Die

A Beautiful Way to Die by Eleni Kyriacou is a historical mystery crime novel being published in May that I got a NetGalley ARC from. Can’t wait to dig into this one! A Beautiful Way to Die is about old glam Hollywood mixed with unscrupulous people who use and abuse others. The story has two female POVs: a wannabe starlet who gets the attention of a movie star named Max, as well as his wife who he leaves high and dry after a blind-sighting divorce. I smell (vintage) revenge and trickery! 

Current Libby Holds

Here’s what’s on my Libby shelf for February:

• Kala by Colin Walsh: An Irish mystery with rave reviews.
• Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney: A thriller about an unreliable narrator.
• Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner: A book I tried once before but might give another shot.

Thanks for joining me on this thriller recap! Let me know if you’ve read any of these books or what’s on your TBR for February. Happy reading, and I’ll see you in the next video! ❤️📚

What’s your favorite thriller you’ve read recently? Let’s chat in the comments!

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