Tag: True Crime

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Everyone in the Group Chat Dies by L.M. Chilton: A silly, chaotic thriller with flashes of humor and horror

Mandy Webster

Kirby Cornell just wants a break—from her crumbling apartment in sleepy Crowhurst, her dead-end job, her sleazy landlord, messy roommates, and most of all, the terrible thing they all did. But when a message pops up in her old group chat saying, “Everyone in the group chat dies,” from her ex-roommate Esme—who died twelve months ago—her life quickly spirals into chaos. This is the premise of L.M. Chilton’s Everyone in the Group Chat Dies, an ironic thriller that fuses TikTok-obsessed true crime investigation with a ’90s serial killer mystery. The book releases December 9, 2025.

Get your copy of Everyone in the Group Chat Dies from my independent online bookstore today!

This book leans into silliness, bordering on absurd, which will delight readers who enjoy quirky, offbeat thrillers. The fast-paced banter among characters evokes the vibe of The Gilmore Girls, though I personally found it more exhausting than charming. Horror fans will also recognize echoes of films like Scream, with moments of gruesomeness framed for comedy rather than tension.

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When a mother disappears, everyone’s a suspect: She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena

Mandy Webster

What if your spouse vanished in the middle of an ordinary day, leaving behind their car, keys, phone—and no trace of where they went? That’s the unsettling setup of She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena, a novel that blends true crime grit with domestic suspense.

Get your copy of She Didn’t See It Coming from my independent online bookstore today!

Lapena’s latest reads differently than her earlier thrillers. This one feels more like a police procedural with a true crime edge, pulling readers into the investigation from both the detectives’ perspective and the world of amateur sleuths. I was especially intrigued by the way she wove in the true crime ecosystem—neighbors rushing to post their theories in Facebook groups, family members consuming crime podcasts for clues. Bryden’s sister, Lizzie, is a true crime addict who inserts herself into the search, raising an uncomfortable question: do amateur sleuths actually help an investigation, or do they only spread speculation that leads investigators off track?

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Would you move in with a man you suspect is a serial killer? Love Letters to a Serial Killer asks why so many women say yes

Mandy Webster

Tasha Coryell’s Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a gripping character study disguised as a thriller—and just when you think it’s about to go full Dateline, it pivots into something stranger, sadder, and, at times, even a little cozy. Yes, cozy.

Get your copy of Love Letters to a Serial Killer from my independent online bookstore today!

The setup sounds ripped from a true-crime podcast: Hannah, a thirty-something woman drifting through life, starts writing letters to William, an accused serial killer awaiting trial. When he’s acquitted, she doesn’t just meet him—she moves in with him. Not because she believes in his innocence. She doesn’t. She just— can’t resist.

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Book Review: Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

Mandy Webster

Lisa Unger’s novel, Christmas Presents, is the perfect blend of cozy holiday charm and chilling suspense. Set against the backdrop of a quaint bookshop in a snow-dusted small town, the novel invites readers to unravel a decade-old mystery alongside Madeline Martin, the sole survivor of a brutal attack. 

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger is an excellent holiday gift choice for the thriller reader on your shopping list!

The story begins when Harley Granger, a notorious true crime podcaster, arrives in Madeline’s bookstore just days before Christmas. Known as much for his fame and wealth as for his controversial tactics, Granger is on a mission to reexamine the horrific events that forever altered Madeline’s life. 

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