Not all thrillers and detective stories are able to create intrigue and draw the reader headlong into the plot, but today I will talk about five books that I read as if spellbound, wanting to know what awaits me on the last pages.
Donato Carrisi “House of Voices”
The main character works as a child psychologist and specializes in hypnosis. All of his patients, children, have experienced some kind of trauma, but thanks to hypnosis, they begin to see the difference between real memories and fantasies. This helps the police or guardianship authorities in court proceedings.
One day, the main character gets a call from his colleague asking him to see an adult patient who had a terrible experience as a child – she thinks she committed a murder, but her memories of it are blurred. In this case, only hypnosis can help. Despite the fact that the hero works only with children, he still gets down to business, trying to unravel the tangle of memories of his new patient. The present is intertwined with the girl's childhood, and all this is accompanied by mysticism, which, in the end, is logically explained.
It is written quite qualitatively, without any water and lyrical digressions, the plot keeps you in suspense until the very end and it is impossible to stop reading. I dragged myself away from the book by the ears.
Simone St. James “Broken Girls”
The plot unfolds in two timelines. In 1950, there was a boarding house for girls who were not needed by their parents, had problems with discipline, were illegitimate and everything in that vein. The plot centers on four friends who share one room. But that's not all they have in common. In the boarding house, the girls live in fear, because the rumor about a ghost, a woman in a black veil, is by no means just a rumor. Everyone sees her. In addition, one of the four friends suddenly disappears…
In the present day, the main character is a journalist Fiona, whose sister was murdered on the grounds of the boarding house several years ago, but by that time the school was no longer operating. Her sister's boyfriend was convicted of the murder, but Fiona is tormented by questions and tries to get to the bottom of the truth. She learns that the boarding house is being restored. But who is this fool, because this is a non-profit business? The heroine is assigned to write an article about it, and she finally gets closer to solving her sister's death and what happened behind the doors of the boarding house several decades ago.
This detective story is also written quite well for its genre, despite the sagging love line, but it doesn't matter at all. I especially liked the oppressive gloomy atmosphere. The plot is frightening, dynamic, exciting, the author keeps the intrigue until the very end. And, again, it's simply impossible to tear yourself away.
Joel Dicker “The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair”
I liked this detective story for its versatility. If you want to get not just a dry detective story, but also a high-quality love story, completeness and depth of what is happening, reflections on writing, friendship, and time, then you will definitely like this novel.
The plot centers on a young writer, Marcus, who is having a crisis in his writing career. He turns to his teacher, mentor, and famous writer Harry Quebert for help. But suddenly he is accused of the murder of sixteen-year-old Nola Kellergan, who disappeared 33 years ago, and now her body has been found on the grounds of Harry Quebert's house. What connected the murdered girl and Harry? Marcus begins his own investigation, and also begins to write a book about it.
Jennifer McMahon “The Winter People”
The story is told in two time periods – in 1908 and in our time. In 1908, a tragedy occurs in Sarah's family – her beloved daughter suddenly dies. Being beside herself with grief, the heroine recalls that in her childhood her aunt, who practiced witchcraft, entrusted her with the secret of bringing the dead back. Naturally, Sarah decided to resort to witchcraft and bring her daughter back to life.
In the present day, the heroine Rudy returns home, but discovers that her mother, a very responsible and strict woman, has disappeared, leaving her and her sister alone.
The third story also takes place in the present day – Catherine has lost her son and has recently become a widow. She came to live in a small town, where her husband's footsteps led her, because on the day of his death he came to this town without warning his wife. Catherine wants to understand what exactly brought him there.
All three stories are united by Sarah's diary, which has survived to this day in book form. We have to find out whether the Winter People really exist – the resurrected dead, or if it's all fiction.
Besides this thriller, I've read a few other books by Jennifer McMahon, but none of them impressed me as much. I remember reading “The Winter People” in 2 days, and the story even scared me.
Diana Setterfield “The Thirteenth Tale”
The main character, Margaret, suddenly receives a letter from a very famous writer, Vida Winter, offering to become her biographer. The fact is that Vida Winter has never told a single drop of truth about herself, nothing is known about her life at all.
Margaret agrees to the offer and learns all the secrets about the writer's life. We are treated to a story about twin sisters, the mystery of their birth, and their dark childhood.
Yes, the book is dark, there are many unpleasant details in it, but all this is in order. And when I found out the solution to the main intrigue of the novel, I was very impressed. I recommend it to those who like Gothic novels, family secrets, and a dark atmosphere.
Джерело: ukr.media
