July Reading Wrap Up

brightwritenow
Aug 4
3 min read

July was another brilliant reading month for me. Here are the highlights!

Kindle Unlimited Highlights

Book cover for The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey, features yellow title text over a misty green forest path, creating a mysterious mood.

Jess Lourey’s The Taken Ones is a chilling, well-paced thriller that blends psychological depth with a gripping cold case mystery. Set in small-town Minnesota, the story follows detective Van Reed and forensic psychologist Harry Steinbeck as they unravel a decades-old disappearance tied to a present-day murder.

Lourey’s writing is gritty and immersive, with strong character development—particularly in the nuanced relationship between Van and Harry. The alternating timelines and perspectives, including from the killer, create steady suspense and emotional complexity.

Dark wooded path with a silhouette of a person. "THE REAPING" in bold pink text, by Jess Lourey. Reflective water and ominous mood.

With a shocking finale and a final line that sets the stage for more, this is a compelling series debut. Highly recommended for fans of dark, character-driven thrillers.

In The Reaping, Jess Lourey brings back BCA agents Van Reed and Harry Steinbeck, this time teaming up with a Duluth detective to solve a brutal murder eerily similar to a cold case from the strange Finnish town of Alku. As they dig deeper, the town's secrets—and Harry’s past—begin to surface.

Told from Harry’s third-person perspective, the story builds slowly but pays off with gripping atmosphere and emotional depth. Lourey excels at crafting unique plots and rich side characters, and the dynamic between Van and Harry continues to shine.

Though not quite as tense as The Taken Ones, this is a strong, unsettling follow-up. I gave it 4.5 stars, rounded down. The Audible narration was excellent and added to the experience.

Publisher Mail

This fast-paced debut thriller offers a gripping, Jurassic Park-inspired narrative—only instead of dinosaurs, the danger comes from large, prehistoric mammals reintroduced to the Scottish Highlands as part of an ambitious rewilding project.

A red book cover features a black tiger leaping, a house silhouette, and trees. Text reads: "THE REWILDING" and "ROBERT EVANS."

The story opens with the mysterious death of a young boy, apparently killed by something that shouldn’t exist. Field biologist Steph, searching for a compelling story, heads to Scotland to investigate. Her curiosity quickly draws her into the secretive world of Kelvin, a billionaire with a grand—and potentially reckless—vision for a new kind of harmony between humans and nature.

While the plot features some familiar tropes and inconsistent character depth, the novel succeeds in maintaining momentum. With plenty of action and visceral tension, it delivers an entertaining, cinematic experience.

Steph is a likeable if underdeveloped protagonist, often guided more by instinct than expertise. Kelvin is suitably enigmatic, and while aspects of his plan strain credibility, his motivations keep readers guessing.

Though the ending leaves several threads unresolved and the science behind the rewilding is only lightly explored, The Rewilding remains an engaging and fast-moving read. Ideal for fans of eco-thrillers and speculative adventure.

Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner for the review copy as part of the book tour

Book Club Reads

Barnsley Library Book Club

Black and white photo of a woman in a dark dress against a wall. Text overlay reads "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox," with a review.

BCW Reading Group

Mary Higgins Clark’s debut novel, Where Are the Children?, remains a compelling psychological thriller nearly fifty years after its publication. Loosely inspired by the real-life case of Alice Crimmins, the story follows Nancy Harmon, a woman who fled the West Coast after being convicted of murdering her two young children. Now living under a new identity in Cape Cod with a new husband and two more children, Nancy’s fragile peace is shattered when her children suddenly vanish on her birthday, and suspicion once again falls squarely on her.

The novel stands out for revealing key details early on, allowing readers to observe how characters respond to clues the reader already knows are significant. This technique creates tension and urgency, drawing the reader into a race against time.

Though the central mystery may feel somewhat predictable to modern readers, its treatment of then-taboo topics and richly drawn atmosphere make it a gripping and memorable read. A must for fans of classic suspense.

ARCs

Neon sign reading "Breakneck Bay" against a sunset sky with roller coaster in the background. Text: "The truth is the deadliest ride."

Faith Gardner’s Breakneck Bay is a fast-paced, twist-filled thriller set against the unlikely backdrop of a dangerously mismanaged waterpark. When a teenage employee goes missing and a possible murder scene is discovered, suspicion falls on park manager Mitch—plunging his wife, Kit, into a spiralling search for the truth.

The novel expertly weaves elements of mystery, suspense, and '80s nostalgia, delivering a plot filled with ominous messages, hidden secrets, and escalating tension. While the book’s relentless pacing keeps the reader hooked, the link between the two viewpoints seemed obvious.

Still, Gardner delivers a compelling, entertaining ride with memorable characters. Breakneck Bay is perfect for readers seeking a high-stakes, summer-ready thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.