In the Midst Of The Shadows
March 16, 2022
A Tuscan Dream
August 5, 2022
Why You Might Like Romantic Suspense/Thrillers
What is it about reading or watching thrillers that gets the adrenaline going? Why do thrillers intrigue readers?
It may have something to do with the human need to solve problems or the perception that good combats evil. It’s about the ‘rush’ you feel when solving a puzzle.
Readers enjoy solving problems and puzzles as clues lead them to the solution or identity of the villain. You might understand the reasoning behind the criminal’s motive and enjoy profiling the villain. You might be curious about what would lead someone to commit such horrific acts.
A thriller features an issue to be worked through, a puzzle to put together, and the joy of expecting a good outcome. People like to anticipate the ending of a story and will keep turning the pages to get to that exciting end.
Dr. Sam Fraser, a Clinical Psychologist, stated that brain studies show that men have a tendency to process things better in the left part of the brain (logical, analytical side) whereas women process things between the two parts of the brain. In other words, men prefer seeing the end of the puzzle but women prefer to come to their own conclusions. Women, therefore, enjoy figuring out the suspense and prefer to guess who the real villain might be. Women or men can go on the thrilling, yet risky journey as they get their emotions involved, to eventually confirm or disconfirm the end result of the story.
Thrillers or crime fiction impact your adrenaline, releasing it and creating a euphoric result. That’s partly why readers enjoy the thriller genre. These stories provide a much-needed release of escape, pleasure, and excitement. Suspense can challenge the mind, activate endorphins (the ‘feel good’ chemicals) in your body, and maintain your interest. It’s rewarding to work out the solution or solve the crime. Most functional people have a desire for justice in an unfair world. For example, Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Janet Hall stated that many readers will read suspense or crime novels, believing that the villain will be caught and justice will be served. It is the thrill to regain justice in a chaotic world.
It is thrilling when good triumphs over evil.
Researchers, psychologists, and literary experts mention how books provide a literary escape or expression. Romantic suspense or thrillers are miles away from your everyday life (or so we hope) and you get to enjoy the fruits of your imagination.
Different readers enjoy thrillers, whether it be for entertainment, relaxation, or stimulation. Escapism and distraction can at times be healing and healthy (a much-needed respite from life’s pain and suffering).
While reading thrillers or suspense novels, you have a tendency to experience physical symptoms that mirror real life. For instance, your heart will race, your breathing gets shallow, you sweat profusely, develop panic symptoms, and so on. It’s as if you’re experiencing the real risk.
You can enjoy thrillers to own your power and not be a victim in the story (as the main character overcomes the villain).
Focus on Jennifer Lawrence in the Hunger Games or Angelina Jolie in Salt. Both women play an active role to exert power, strength, and independence.
How could you not enjoy thrillers or romantic suspense?
My Must-Read Thriller/Suspense Book Recommendations –
TWELVE MUST-READ SUSPENSE/THRILLERS
Title – False Memory
Author – Mel Raine
Plot – A case of mistaken identity when a young woman, Lily is shot and becomes comatose. When she wakes up, she recognises the shooter, but to stay alive, Lily needs to pretend she has lost her memory. The man who saved her life is there to protect her, but why is he talking to her attempted killer? Cliffhanger ending.
“I enjoyed this book because it dug deeply into Lily’s mind, which showed a lot of fear and impending doom when she recognised her attacker. It enticed me to read the next book in the series.”
Link: https://tinyurl.com/meliraine
Title – Next To Disappear
Author – Malcolm Richards
Plot – A troubled ex-teacher, Emily Swanson moves into a couple’s previous home, but the wife, Alina disappears one night, assuming she had escaped from her abusive husband. Emily wants a new life, and sees a chance to find Alina as a way to redeem herself from her past. As Emily gets closer to discovering the truth, she finds that she’s putting her life in danger.
“I enjoyed this book because Emily is a troubled woman who is fighting past demons, but ploughs on to solve a mystery. The character shows development throughout the story.”
Link – https://tinyurl.com/MalcolmRichards
Title – Hit the Road Jack
Author – Willow Rose
Plot – A young boy, Ben whose parents are still sleeping realises he’ll be missing out on a school field trip. When his dog heads upstairs, and later approaches Ben with a finger in his mouth, he knows he’ll be missing out on school.
Detective Jack Ryder accompanies his children on the school field trip when he gets a call from the police about a body. The investigation leads him to uncover clues about a killer who chases women and murders them. The case impacts him and his family when he discovers the truth.
Link – https://tinyurl.com/WillsRose
“I enjoyed this book because Jack is a true family man who will do anything for his family and thrives to keep his community safe. I like his values and how he doesn’t give up even when his life is in danger, showing true strength.”
Title – Don’t Look Back
Author – Vicki Tharp
Plot – Audrey heads to her inherited island home to prevent it from foreclosure. But the island is where a killer is lurking and has cravings. He notices her.
Scott works hard to distract himself from a personal life, including a love he’s avoided for a long time. When Audrey leaves the island, will he appreciate what he’s lost?
Audrey moves towards danger, but will Scott save her in time or will the woman fight back, refusing to be a victim? Link: https://tinyurl.com/vickitharp
“I enjoy romantic suspense, and write in this genre. The couple has a strong connection and fight to be together at all costs; even when someone attempts to kill them.”
Title – Gone Daddy Gone by Cheryl Bradshaw
Author Cheryl Bradshaw
Plot – A college student walks on her own in the snow when she hears a noise in the distance. Realising that a man is following her, he calls out her name. As he gets closer, she runs for her life. She wonders who he is and why he’s holding a gun.
Sloane Monroe, a private investigator searches for a killer when a loss is too close to home.
Link – https://tinyurl.com/cherylshaw
“I was saddened by this story due to a death occurring within the family, but enjoyed the suspense and resolution at the end.”
3. Title – Deadly Series – (collection of three books)
Author – Ann Christopher
Plot – Kareem Gregory is a drug kingpin who gets away with a multitude of crimes until he comes face to face with those who have the courage to fight him. The people who go up against him are crazy enough to fall in love as they are fighting for justice in the criminal world.
All three romantic suspense books are in one volume.
Link – https://tinyurl.com/annchristopher
“I enjoyed this book because the couples were intense and showed a true connection. The criminal spanned all three books, and showed the true grit of law enforcement personnel in bringing down a drug kingpin.”
Title – Haunted By the Past (Friends In Crisis Series, Book 1)
Author – Lucy Appadoo
Plot – Detective Marco Petrazini is on the case and determined to stop the killer before they come for Bella, but Bella isn’t making it easy.
Psychologist Bella Carismo climbs out of a dark past and puts the pieces of her life back together. When she receives a threatening message, all her hard work starts to unravel.
Marco enters her life as the dedicated detective who will solve the mysterious identity of the stalker and keep Bella safe. But his conviction is more than duty, it’s budding forbidden love.
Clues lead Marco straight into Bella’s past, a past that is getting the people around her killed. As the bodies pile up, Marco and Bella find stopping the killer puts their lives and their love in peril.
Link – http://mybook.to/HauntedbythePast
“The book, Mind Hunter inspired me to write this story, and I have always had a fascination with the criminal mind. I love a good romance too.”
Author – Malcolm Richards
Title – Circle Of Bones
Plot – Blake Hollow, a private investigator struggles to come to terms with her missing best friend. Back in her hometown, she is surprised to discover that her old school friend’s daughter, Lucy Truscott has disappeared.
Blake seeks out to find Lucy alive, but she faces a shocking turn of events when she finds her mutilated body.
As the police search for their killer, Blake believes that Lucy isn’t the only victim and starts to investigate on her own.
But where her investigation leads her, is a danger she never could have imagined.
Link – https://tinyurl.com/richardsm
“I enjoyed this story as the author is great at plot twists and engaged me from start to finish. He has a tendency to write disturbing plotlines, but the resolution at the end makes it all worth it.”
Author – Blake Pierce
Title – The Perfect Wife
Plot – Jessie Hunt is training to be a criminal profiler who moves to a beachside mansion. Not long after her and her husband arrive, Jessie finds that her neighbours and their au pairs appear to be hiding dark secrets. She starts to question strange occurrences, including her own mental state, and wonders if she’s come across a scary conspiracy.
Will her traumatic past lead her down a dangerous path?
Link – https://tinyurl.com/Blakepie
“I enjoyed this story as I have a fascination with criminal profiling, and Jesse is a true master at solving crimes, particularly when she doesn’t know who to trust in her new world.”
Author – Alan Jacobson
Title – The 7th Victim
Plot – Karen Vail is an FBI Profiler who comes head-to-head with a serial killer, known as “Dead Eyes.”
Karen’s personal baggage starts to interfere with her investigation, but she realises that the turning point to solving this case points to the seventh victim. However, uncovering the secrets of the murders could have devastating consequences on her career and a truth that might get her killed.
Link – https://tinyurl.com/alanjacob
“I enjoyed this story as the character manages to overcome so much personal baggage, as well as catching a serial killer when her life is placed at a high risk.”
Author – Lucy Appadoo
Title – In Rio’s Shadows
Plot – Romance and terror in a tropical paradise.
Sun, sand, surf. How could Blanca Castellano turn down the offer of a promotion to beautiful Rio de Janeiro—especially when it’s a step up in her career in Madrid?
The job is a dream come true. A promotion, a new culture to explore, great colleagues to work with, including a sexy photographer named Carlos. There’s also a chance to make a name for herself by exposing a powerful story: child sex exploitation in Rio’s poverty-stricken neighbourhoods.
But the return to Rio also means the return of nightmares from Blanca’s childhood—nightmares that began after her first trip to Rio, as a child with her parents on vacation.
As Blanca and Carlos investigate child exploitation in Rio, the shadows of Blanca’s nightmares become dark memories of something she cannot yet understand. Shadows of Carlos’s past, too, stalk them—until they become a terrifying and dangerous reality. Together, Blanca and Carlos must learn the identity of a murderous puppet master.
Link – http://mybook.to/InRiosShadows
“I enjoyed working on this story, as the Latin culture fascinates me, and I wanted to capture the disturbing truth of the favelas in Brazil. I love to write about romance too.”
Author – Toni Anderson
Title – A Cold Dark Place
Plot – Alex Parker is a former CIA assassin who works for a secret government organisation, determined to rid the world of serial killers and pedophiles before entering the courts.
FBI Special Agent, Mallory Rooney has searched for years, attempting to find the criminal who had kidnapped her sister 18 years ago. With a new serial killer case, Mallory believes a vigilante is at work.
Mallory meets and falls in love with Alex, but the secrets and betrayals surrounding Alex is a threat to their relationship. It spirals out of control when the man who kidnapped her sister targets Mallory.
Link – https://tinyurl.com/tonianders
“I enjoyed this story as the twists and turns engage you from start to finish. The couple is intense and work together to solve serial crimes and overcome their challenges.”
