Tag: thriller book review

Review: Black Cliff Chronicles by Steve Sterling

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Three intertwined time travel rescue missions reveal how ordinary people rise to extraordinary acts of valor, driven by selflessness and a willingness to sacrifice for others.

The thriving university town of New Jerusalem nestles in the secluded hill country north of the Ozark National Forest in rural Arkansas. New Jerusalem is a wonderful place to put down roots as long as you don’t go into the experimental forest and find Black Cliff, a place of dark power.

Was it a simple misstep in 1989 when high school seniors Mary Sanders and Charlie Barrows became lost during a fall hike and stood facing Black Cliff? Or were other forces at play?

Before they can flee, Black Cliff entangles Mary in a web of time travel, strands that transport her back 300 years in history to a horrific civil war and a daring solo rescue mission.

Months later, Mary returns to New Jerusalem and to 1989, battered by her war experiences and heartsick over those she left behind. Once home, her struggles continue. Time travelers and friends gather to help Mary and Charlie. They have less than three days to rescue America from a plot to seize the presidency.

Favorite Lines:

“Loving Minnie, is like standing on a cliff in Cornwall as an Atlantic storm slams into the shore. The waves crashing below and the wind so powerful you must brace yourself to not be blown off your feet. I am sorry for all the Victorian allusions. It fits so perfectly. Loving Minnie is tempestuous and overwhelming. One can’t breathe.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Black Cliff Chronicles by Steve Sterling is an engrossing blend of time travel, historical intrigue, and character-driven storytelling that pulls you in from the very first page. 

At its core, this novel explores how the past and present intertwine in unexpected ways. The characters—ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances—discover that their journeys through time hold significant consequences for their own lives and the world around them. Mary and Charlie, in particular, anchor the story with their evolving friendship and creative partnership. Their interactions felt authentic, with moments of humor and heartfelt exchanges that made them instantly relatable.

The time travel element—especially the “spirit walks” that transport characters into historical moments—was both innovative and chilling. Sterling does an excellent job of immersing the reader in different eras, capturing not just the sights and sounds but the emotional weight of being there. One particular journey into fascist Italy left a lasting impression with its vivid and unsettling details.

What I appreciated most was how the book balanced thrilling action with deeper reflections on free will and the cost of knowledge. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, Sterling threw in twists that kept me guessing until the very end. While some historical details occasionally slowed the pace, they also enriched the narrative, offering a fuller picture of the times explored.

Summary:

Overall, Black Cliff Chronicles is more than just a time travel adventure—it’s a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to confront the past and shape the future. Whether you’re a fan of speculative fiction, historical thrillers, or character-driven dramas, this book has something to offer. Happy reading!

Check out Black Cliff Chronicles here!

 

Review: The Devil You Know by David Brimer

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

From the author of Piedmont and In Case I Need You comes four new tales of terror you won’t soon forget.

“Chirping” – A small Florida town is besieged by an enemy from below.
“Get Your Kicks” – A man sets out to commit the perfect murder spree.
“That’s The Breaks” – A wrestler adjusting to a devastating injury finds help in unexpected and sinister ways.
“The Girl In The Drawn Bonnet” – A mistake during wartime follows a young German into an unforeseen alliance.

Inspired by the great novella collections of Stephen King, The Devil You Know is sure to keep you up at night.

Favorite Lines:

As I do with all short story or poetry collections, rather than picking my favorite lines, I pick my pieces. For this collection, I really enjoyed Chirping and The Girl in the Drawn Bonnet.

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Devil You Know is a gripping and thought-provoking psychological thriller that features 4 short stories inspired by Stephen King’s own novella collections. By blending elements of suspense, dark humor, and deeply introspective character exploration, Brimer has crafted a collection of stories that lingers long after the final page.

I found the writing in this collection to be sharp and immersive, pulling the reader into a world where trust is fragile and reality is often blurred. I found myself at the edge of my seat many times – Brimer does a great job at making you question what you thought you knew as reality in these stories. I also thought that Brimer did a wonderful job at pacing, steadily building tension while allowing moments of reflection that add depth to the characters and their motivations.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance psychological depth with an engaging, fast-moving plot. The dialogue feels natural, laced with wit and unease, making the interactions between characters both compelling and unpredictable. The themes of identity, deception, and morality add complexity to the narrative, making it more than just a thriller—it’s an exploration of what it truly means to know oneself.

Summary:

Overall, this book is for readers who enjoy thrillers with a psychological twist, The Devil You Know is a must-read. Brimer’s storytelling is both entertaining and unsettling, making this novel a standout in the genre. Whether you’re drawn to intricate character studies or edge-of-your-seat suspense, this book. Happy reading!

Check out The Devil You Know here!

 

Review: Her Dark Promises by E.H. Raven

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Stuck in a dead-end job and unable to afford independence, Jamila’s dreams of success fade daily. Desperate, she agrees to an arranged marriage orchestrated by her father, but it backfires, deepening her depression. 

She finds solace in horror movies about demonic possession, leading her to research real-life cases. Discovering some achieve success through dark means, she decides to summon her demon, hoping to change her fate. Possession grants Jamila immense confidence and success, but the dark alliance exacts a steep price.

The demon consumes her sanity, blurring reality and nightmare.

Can Jamila escape the darkness she unleashed?

Favorite Lines:

“Nothing I eat satisfies my hunger. This must be what stress eating is.”

“She recognized the tragic irony in humanity’s plight: their yearning for a better life had led them into an inescapable trap.”

“In her moments of clarity, Jamila realized the irony of her situation. She had sought possession to gain knowledge and power, but it was only in her damnation that she truly understood the depths of the world’s corruption. The knowledge she had gained was vast, but it came at the highest cost imaginable: her soul.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion and just in time for spooky season to begin!

Can I start this review off by saying that something that really drew me in to this book was the cover alone. It was the perfect level of creepy and ends up fitting this book very well!

This story follows Jamila, a young woman who feels trapped in a mundane existence with a draining job who is unable to see a light at the end of the tunnel. To make matters worse, her father keeps insisting on an arranged marriage that she is less than thrilled about. To escape her reality, Jamila watches a lot of horror movies and becomes interested in real-life stories of people who have summoned demons. Taking inspiration from these stories, Jamila tries to summon a demon herself. What starts as a confidence boost for Jamila, quickly spirals out of control and readers follow along as Jamila fights a darkness as it begins to consume her.

I am a sucker for any psychological thrillers and this one did not disappoint – and it came just in time for spooky season! This is my first book by Raven and I loved the way that the world was set up only to have a purposeful tone shift once Jamila summoned the demon. Raven did a great job at setting up a terrifying and thrilling plot that had me on the edge of my seat. Throughout reading this, I regularly found myself picturing this on the big screen and think it could be a great plot for a scary, demon possession movie!

If I had to nitpick one thing, it would have to be the flow of the book. As some points, it came off as a bit choppy and could have probably flowed more smoothly from one scene to the next. However, I want to emphasize that this didn’t take away from the overall plot which I still found to be creative and interesting.

I wanted to put a trigger warning that this book does contain graphic violence, self-mutilation, sexual content, horror themes, and more and may not be suited for everyone.

Summary:

Overall, while this was my first book from Raven, I am confident that it won’t be my last. This was the perfect blend of creepy, thrilling, and addicting and I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of horror and psychological thrillers. Happy reading!

Check out Her Dark Promises here!

Review: Tangled Deception by Darryl Webb

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

Evelyn Pratt, PhD, is living a lie. Haunted by a past she wants to forget, her worst fear becomes her reality when she’s blackmailed and forced to commit crimes that will land her in prison for the rest of her life if she’s caught.

Embroiled in sabotage, theft, espionage, and murder, Dr. Pratt is soon running for her life and running out of time. Hunted by the Army, the police, and people who want the reward money, she must employ both her genius intellect and martial arts skills if she wants to remain free long enough to exact her revenge–and then escape the clutches of those controlling her.

Favorite Lines:

“Wow. Next time you pour on the cologne, gargle with some.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Dr. Evelyn Pratt who is blackmailed into becoming a criminal and quickly finds herself on the run to avoid being hunted down and captured before she can take her revenge on the very individuals who forced her to commit the crimes in the first place.

This is my first book from Webb and I found it to be very enjoyable. Once I picked this book up, I had a hard time putting it down due its fast paced nature that left me on the edge of my seat, not to mention several plot twists that had me needing to read on to find out what happens next. Evelyn is a total bad ass (excuse my language) with admirable wit and the impressive ability to kick some butt when necessary and I found that for most of the book, I was trying to determine what her backstory was that made her the way she is – don’t worry all is explained in the end. 

I think Webb did a very good job at creating a fast paced, captivating story. The way that the scenery was described throughout made me feel like I was in the room with the characters. I could definitely see this book being perfect for a TV show or movie adaption. I also really appreciated the timing at the top of each chapter. It helped me keep track of pace and the countdown just added to the anticipation. If I had to nitpick about one thing, it would be that sometimes it was almost TOO fast paced. I wish that there had been more time during certain scenes but I also understand that part of the point of this story is the rush and on-the-run aspect of it all. 

P.S. to Webb: Thank you for not hurting the dogs!

Summary:

Classified as a technothriller and military thriller on Amazon, I would say this book can be for anyone who enjoys strong female characters, thrillers, and mysteries that are full of action and plot twists. Happy reading!

Check out Tangled Deception here!