The Marriage Act by John Marrs — ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 I always get excited to pick up a new John Marrs book because I love how original his ideas are, and The Marriage Act definitely had a really interesting premise.
It is set in a near-future world where married couples can sign up to a government-backed scheme designed to make marriages happier, stronger and more successful. In return, they receive lots of benefits — but the rules are strict, the monitoring is intense, and leaving the programme is not as simple as it sounds. As with all of John Marrs’ books, the concept is clever and slightly unsettling. I loved the idea behind it and could really imagine parts of it becoming possible in the future, which made it feel quite thought-provoking. The book follows several different characters and relationships, showing how the scheme affects people in very different ways. The problem being I didn’t find any of the characters engaging enough to want to be rooting for- and this is where it fell down for
me However, although I enjoyed it overall, this one did not quite hit the mark for me in the same way that The One did. There were definitely plenty of twists, drama and moments that kept me reading, but I found some parts a little harder to connect with and it did not have me as completely hooked as I was hoping. John Marrs is still one of my favourite authors for a clever, fast-paced and slightly dark thriller, and I will absolutely keep reading everything he brings out. I loved the Passengers and also The One and this is in opinion not as good as either The Marriage Act is a good read with a brilliant concept, but for me it was a solid 3-star book rather than one of his stand-out favourites.
Some thrillers grip you with pace. This one grips you with people — and then pulls the floor out from under them.
What it’s about (no spoilers)
Jen Miller leaves her youngest child in the care of her two sisters while the family gathers at superstar Winter Kellaway’s beachside estate for a wedding celebration. The champagne is on ice, the decorations are flawless — and one split-second lapse turns the happiest day of the year into a tragedy the family will never recover from. What follows is grief, blame, an explosive court case, and a long-buried secret that refuses to stay buried. DC Saul Anguish is brought in to investigate.
What I loved
The twists. Plural. Every time I thought I had it worked out, Cummins shifted the ground and I was wrong again — and not in a cheap, out-of-nowhere way. The clues are there; you just don’t see them until she wants you to.
The sisters are the real engine of the book. Winter, Jen and Alyssa are so believably written that the fallout hurts, and the shifting timelines and viewpoints mean you’re constantly re-weighing who deserves your sympathy. That’s the clever bit: your loyalties keep moving.
It’s also genuinely emotional. This isn’t just a puzzle to solve — it’s about guilt, forgiveness and how far people will go to protect the ones they love. I read most of it in two sittings because I simply couldn’t leave it alone.
What didn’t quite work
My one real gripe is the subplot involving Saul. I never felt it earned its place. Every time the story cut back to him I found myself wanting to get back to the sisters, and I don’t think losing those sections would have cost the book anything — if anything the central story would have hit even harder. It’s not badly written, it just sits slightly apart from everything that makes the novel so compelling. Half a star off for that.
The verdict
A dark, twisty, surprisingly moving thriller with characters you’ll be arguing about long after the last page. If you like Lisa Jewell or Claire Douglas, or you enjoy a courtroom thread running through your crime fiction, you’ll fly through this one. It was also shortlisted for the CWA Twisted Dagger 2026.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars I went into First Wives’ Shadow hoping for a gripping, addictive domestic thriller, and while it started off reasonably well, it quickly became a bit of a slog.
The premise had potential and the opening chapters were intriguing enough to keep me reading. However, as the story progressed, I found myself struggling to believe some of the characters’ choices—particularly those made by the supposedly hard-nosed, successful businesswoman at the centre of the novel. I just couldn’t accept that someone portrayed as so intelligent, experienced and tough-minded would fall for certain things so easily. There were several moments that felt over-the-top and, at times, downright ridiculous. Rather than feeling tense or shocking, parts of the plot became frustrating because they required too much suspension of disbelief. I kept waiting for the story to settle into something more convincing, but instead I felt as though I was trudging through it just to reach the end. That said, there is a good twist towards the conclusion, and it did add some much-needed interest after a fairly slow and unbelievable middle section. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to make up for how implausible I found much of the story. Overall, First Wives’ Shadow had a promising start and a decent final twist, but the unrealistic plot points and frustrating character decisions meant it didn’t quite work for me. A disappointing read from an author I usually expect more from.
I absolutely loved The One by John Marrs. It felt so different from the usual thriller and had me completely hooked from the very beginning. The idea behind it is clever, unsettling and one of those concepts that makes you stop and think, “What would I do if this really existed?” The book is set in a world where a DNA test can identify your perfect romantic match — the one person you are genetically destined to fall in love with. It sounds like the ultimate dream, but John Marrs brilliantly explores the messier side of that idea.
What if you are already happily married when you find your match? What if your “one” lives on the other side of the world? Or worse, what if the person you are matched with is not at all who you hoped they would be? The story follows several different characters, each dealing with the consequences of discovering their match. I really liked the multiple points of view because every storyline brought something new, and I kept wanting to read “just one more chapter” to find out what would happen next. There are secrets, betrayals, twists and some genuinely shocking moments throughout. John Marrs is known for writing high-concept psychological thrillers that take everyday ideas and push them into dark, thought-provoking territory. His writing is so easy to get into, but he is brilliant at slowly building tension and making you question every character. The chapters are short and fast-paced, which made this such an addictive read. I loved how original The One was. It is part romance, part psychological thriller and part cautionary tale about technology, fate and whether finding your perfect match would actually make life better. The ending and twists were brilliantly done, and it definitely stayed with me after I finished it.
A really different, cleverly written and completely gripping book — I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a twisty thriller with an unusual premise.
I actually picked up The Passengers by John Marrs from a little book share while I was on holiday in Mexico, and it turned out to be one of those lucky finds you just can’t put down. You know when you grab a book on a whim and it completely pulls you in? That was this for me. A solid 5/5.
The whole idea of the book is honestly a bit terrifying because it doesn’t feel that far off reality. It’s set in a world where driverless cars have taken over, and everything is meant to be safer and controlled. But then eight people find themselves trapped inside hacked cars, with no way of escaping, and they’re all being driven towards a deadly crash. What really got me hooked is that it’s not just about what’s happening in the cars. The public is actually watching it unfold and has to vote on who should live and who should die. It sounds intense, and it really is. I found myself constantly changing my mind about who I was rooting for as more and more secrets came out. And that’s the clever bit — none of the characters are perfect. The more you learn about them, the more you question everything. Just when I thought I had someone figured out, another twist would come in and completely change my opinion. I also loved how easy it was to read. The chapters are quite short, which made it perfect for dipping in and out while I was lying by the pool… although in reality, I ended up reading way more than I planned because I kept saying “just one more chapter”. It’s one of those books that really makes you think as well. Not in a heavy way, but enough to make you wonder what you would actually do in that situation. Would you trust the system? Would you vote? Could you even make that kind of decision? For me, it had the perfect mix of thriller, drama, and just enough sci-fi to make it feel modern and believable. Definitely one I’ll be recommending, and I still can’t believe I just found it sitting on a random book shelf on holiday. If you like fast-paced, twisty reads that keep you guessing, this is 100% worth picking up. 5/5 from me. Have you read it, or would you trust a driverless car?
In the posh, leafy enclave of Melville Heights, the houses are large, the lawns are pristine, and the secrets are suffocating. Lisa Jewell’s Watching You is a masterclass in domestic noir that proves how easily an idyllic suburban veneer can crack.
A Tangled Web of Obsession
The story centers on Tom Fitzwilliam, a charismatic headmaster who is practically worshipped by the residents of Melville Heights. He is the “perfect” neighbor—kind, handsome, and endlessly helpful. However, the narrative is framed by a looming tragedy: someone in this neighborhood is determined to kill him.
The plot is masterfully layered, primarily through the eyes of:
Joey Mullins: A young woman who has just moved into the neighborhood with her husband. She becomes deeply, unhealthily obsessed with Tom, convinced there is a sinister side to his “too-perfect” persona.
Jenna Tripp: A teenage girl living in the shadow of a local tragedy. Her mother, Beth, was the victim of a brutal assault years prior, and Jenna is haunted by the past and the strange dynamics of the neighborhood.
The Neighborhood: Jewell masterfully weaves together the viewpoints of various neighbors, each of whom is watching one another. Whether it’s through windows, social media, or whispered gossip, the “watching” in this book is constant and invasive.
Why the Plot is So Compelling
What sets this thriller apart is the dual-timeline approach. We are not just dealing with the current threat against Tom Fitzwilliam; we are simultaneously investigating the long-buried secrets regarding the death of a local teenager named Viva Hart years earlier.
As the present-day plot intensifies—with Joey’s obsession spiraling and the neighborhood tensions reaching a breaking point—the two timelines begin to collide. Jewell forces the reader to act as a detective, connecting the dots between past trauma and current motives.
The Moral Ambiguity: Nothing in Melville Heights is black and white. Jewell purposefully blurs the line between the victim and the villain. Is Joey a worried citizen uncovering a predator, or is she a stalker herself? Is Tom the hero everyone believes him to be, or is he manipulating those around him?
The Slow Burn: The plot thrives on the slow revelation of small, unsettling details—a notebook, a stray lock of hair, a secret glance—that gradually build into a suffocating sense of dread.
The Final Twist: Without giving too much away, the epilogue is a gut-punch. It recontextualizes everything you’ve just read, shifting the blame for the town’s darkest historical tragedy in a way that is as terrifying as it is brilliant.
The Verdict
Watching You is a gripping, multi-layered puzzle. While some might find the middle chapters a deliberate slow burn, it is essential for the character development that makes the final reveal so effective. Jewell doesn’t just write a thriller; she writes a sharp, uncomfortable commentary on how obsession blinds us and how the most dangerous secrets are often hidden in plain sight.
Who should read this? If you crave psychological depth, complex character studies, and a twist that stays with you long after the final page, put this at the top of your reading list.
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B.A. Paris has built a reputation for delivering high-octane psychological thrillers, so expectations were understandably high for The Prisoner. The novel kicks off with an absolute killer of a premise: a young woman named Amelie wakes up in pitch-black darkness, kidnapped and held captive in a room she cannot see. It is a classic, claustrophobic hook that promises a tense game of survival.
Unfortunately, while the book starts on a high note, it burns through its goodwill at a rapid pace, quickly devolving into a deeply frustrating and utterly unbelievable narrative.
The Turning Point: A Character Contradiction
The most glaring flaw in The Prisoner lies in the jarring disconnect within its protagonist, Amelie. In the initial chapters, Paris goes to great lengths to establish Amelie as a fiercely independent, street-smart survivor. Having been orphaned young, she is depicted as someone who relies solely on her own wits and caution to navigate a harsh world.
Yet, this careful characterization is entirely thrown out the window when she crosses paths with the wealthy Ned Hawthorne.
The decision Amelie makes to enter into a sudden, highly suspect marriage of convenience with Ned completely contradicts everything we were just taught to believe about her. It is a massive narrative leap that feels forced by the plot rather than earned by the character.
Instead of the savvy survivor we were promised, Amelie suddenly acts with a level of naivety that strains all credibility. It is incredibly difficult to root for a heroine whose core personality traits are rewritten just to get her into the plot’s central predicament.
From Compelling Hook to Unbelievable Spiral
Once the initial mystery of the kidnapping is established, the book goes downhill fast. A good thriller requires a thread of logic to hold the tension together, but The Prisoner trades suspense for increasingly absurd plot twists.
The mechanics of the marriage, the motivations of the captors, and the ultimate reveals require a massive suspension of disbelief. Rather than feeling like a clever web of deceit, the story feels contrived, relying on characters making baffling decisions simply to keep the plot moving forward.
The Verdict: A Missed Opportunity
The Prisoner had all the ingredients for a top-tier thriller: a strong concept, a vulnerable yet capable lead, and a terrifying situation. Instead, it serves as a textbook example of a great idea getting lost in poor execution. Because the central character relationships and choices are so unbelievable, the tension completely evaporates by the halfway mark.
For readers looking for the tight, psychological realism of Paris’s earlier work like Behind Closed Doors, this one unfortunately misses the mark.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5) — A decent concept ruined by glaring character inconsistencies and an unbelievable plot.
Hey everyone! I’m currently away on holiday, enjoying some much-needed downtime. Of course, no holiday is complete without a stack of books, and today I’m sharing my thoughts on my latest read: The Assistant by S.K. Tremayne.
I picked this up for just £1 in my local charity shop before heading off, and honestly? Thank goodness it only cost me a quid, because it was a total letdown.
Here is my honest breakdown of why this one didn’t live up to the hype.
The Premise: A Great Concept
On paper, The Assistant has all the ingredients for a gripping, modern psychological thriller. It taps into our collective paranoia about smart home technology and AI spying on us.
The setup is genuinely creepy: Jo, newly divorced and struggling, moves into a luxury apartment equipped with a state-of-the-art voice assistant named Electra. When Electra starts spitting out deeply personal, terrifyingly specific details about Jo’s past, the stage is set for a chilling, tech-driven nightmare.
Unfortunately, while the concept is brilliant, the execution completely misses the mark.
A Disjointed and Frustrating Read
The biggest issue with this book is how disjointed it feels. A thriller relies on building tension, but here, the pacing is a chaotic mess.
I kept reading, turning pages with the desperate hope that the story would finally click into place, hit its stride, and reward my patience. It never did. I wish I’d just call it quits and followed my gut. Instead, it drags you through a repetitive middle section that leads to a conclusion that doesn’t feel earned.
Unbelievable Characters and a Far-Fetched Plot
For a psychological thriller to work, you have to buy into the world and the people inhabiting it. The Assistant fails on both fronts:
The Characters: Jo is incredibly difficult to root for, mostly because her decisions defy all human logic. Instead of doing what any sane person would do when their smart home begins threatening them—like unplugging the device or leaving—she just stays. The supporting characters feel just as unbelievable and flat.
The Plot: As the book progresses, it crosses the line from “speculative tech-horror” into pure absurdity. The twists are so wildly far-fetched that they shatter any remaining suspension of disbelief. Rather than a clever, mind-bending resolution, the climax feels like a series of cheap shocks.
The Verdict
My Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
The Assistant is the textbook definition of a total letdown. It wastes a fantastic, timely concept on a messy plot and unbelievable characters that to be honest I didn’t empathise or relate to. Looks like I could be in a minority because it has a 4.1 star review on Amazon but just didn’t do it for me!
Have you read The Assistant? Did you find it as far-fetched as I did, or did it work better for you? Let me know in the comments below!
