There’s no doubt that when it comes to her novels, Karin Slaughter has a sick and twisted mind. Quite possible our favourite thriller writer ever! In The Silent Wife, we jump from present day Atlanta, Georgia, where medical examiner Sara Linton and Will Trent – GBI investigator and Sara’s boyfriend – are investigating the brutal murder of a young girl. The investigation takes a wild and unexpected turn, and readers are taken back a decade to Grant Country, and a case being investigated by Jeffrey Tolliver –Sara’s husband … and jumps back and forth between the cases and the two decades. Just JOY for those who started the Grant Country books from the beginning, with Blindsighted. Wicked twists, as there should be, a little love story to keep things sweet, a thriller we could. not. put. down. HarperCollinsPublishers.
It’s been a good month for tense reads. Massively edge-of-your-seat, beautifully written and also with a great big unexpected twist, Sarah Vaughan’s Little Disasters looks at issues of mothers not coping, friends and trust issues, families keeping secrets. Very believable, with characters you just ache for. Simon and Schuster
Lesley Pearce. Perfect for an easy, weekend read. She’s just released a new thriller titled Liar, revolving around a young woman who is desperate to be a reporter (the closest she’s come is selling advertising in the local paper!). When she discovers the body of a murder victim near her home, and hears the lies the police and reporters are spreading, she convinces the local paper’s editor to let her tell the true story. And when another body is found, she thinks she may be the one to solve the mystery and stop more murders. Michael Joseph
An office fire. The death of an advertising agency CEO. And three women, each with a reason for wanting revenge. Start Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks early on a Saturday morning and set aside the entire weekend … full of twists and turns, you won’t put it down. Century
The story’s nothing new … but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. An intern appears to be determined to undermine and sabotage her magazine editor boss. In Precious You, a terrific debut novel psychological thriller, Helen Monks Takhar tackles the Generation X vs Millennials issues in the workplace, along with ageing, feminism, and toxic obsessions. Exceptional. HQ
Another psychological thriller set in the glamorous world of a glossy magazine, The New Girl is a freelance journalist who fills in for the fashion editor who’s going on maternity leave. It’s an exceptional job, and when it’s time for the stand-in to leave, she’s not too keen to give up the position. Harriet Walker’s book is a brilliant weekend read. Hodder and Stoughton.
Staying with thrillers – that November 2019 tour! Siya Kolisi – Against All Odds by Jeremy Daniel tells the story of the boy from the Zwide township who beat the odds and followed his passion from the African Bombers Club to his appointment as first black Springbok captain. Thrilling indeed. Jonathan Ball Publishers
Good grief. More drama. Sarah Pinborough’s Dead to Her follows the story of a woman who’s a second wife, an outsider, hanging onto her fabulous life by a designer thread … and coping just fine until her husband’s 65-year-old boss comes home from a trip with a new, lovely, 22-year-old wife. Fur will fly. HarperCollins Publishers
When a missing girl returns two years to the day after she disappeared, with no memory of where she’d been or what happened to her, her best friends are delighted. But the excitement doesn’t last … this girl is more like a stranger. Who – or what – is she? Rachel Harrison combines thriller and horror in The Return. Hodder and Stoughton
With all the drama on the pages this month, we’re looking for a down-to-earth, no-nonsense wine … like Four Cousins. The revamped collection of single-cultivar wines offers something for everyone in the club … from a gentle smooth Merlot to a fresh and fragrant Sauvignon Blanc. This month we’re serving the medium-bodied Chardonnay – all fresh grapefruit and creamy citrus-vanilla. The wines are well priced, too … when you can buy wine again, you’ll find them for around R59.99 a bottle. Details: fourcousins.co.za
