Bookwild - The Best Revenge Thrillers with Steph Lauer

Episode Date: March 22, 2024

This week, Stpeh Lauer @books.in.badgerland and I talk about our favorite revenge thrillers!Books We Talked AboutThe Last HousewifeThe Weight of BloodKill for Me, Kill for YouThe Golden CageLook CloserMindfuck SeriesAn Inconvenient WomanYou Know HerNever Saw Me ComingThey Never LearnLay Your Body DownThe ChangeAsk for Andrea Get Bookwild MerchCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackCheck Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck out the Imposter Hour Podcast with Liz and GregFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrian 

So this week, I'm back with Steph Lauer, Books and Badgerland, and we're going to talk about our favorite revenge thrillers. But I did want to hear like what you've been reading recently that you've enjoyed or are just reading and you don't know if you're going to enjoy it. Good call. Good call. Well, thank you for having me back. It is recording on St. Patrick's Day, but we just talked about how fast is revenge day. and that's very good. Yes. Well, right now I am reading my physical book is When You Were Me by Marley Bush. It is an arc that comes out in May. And I'm about 50% and it's very tense.

It's about two twins very much in their heads. So I'm interested to see where it's going. And then on audio, I'm reading Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker. Oh, yeah. And it's, I guess it's kind of a satire about like parenthood. And I'm not too far into it, maybe 25%. But the January LaVoy is an incredible narrator. And she does like all the little kids' voices and it's kind of funny.

But there I think- Baby vampires, right? Yeah, I think it's something like that. But so far just the commentary on like all the expectations of a mom and then just like what's going on. It's kind of fun. So I'm excited to see where that's going. How about you? That's cool. I just finished while we were burning yesterday. It was very fun. It was two POVs and kind of snarky. Not totally snarky since obviously I'll go hard with snarky. But some of it was. That was like part of it. But it's also.

it's about basically a woman who's a white woman whose friend is murdered in her neighborhood and she gets kind of obsessed with it and then her husband is like I think you need an assistant to keep your life together but really is truly what he says to her and um so she hires someone who's a black woman whose son was murdered a year before um and so their stories end up intertwining and coming to a head by the end of it. So it was really good. Definitely some like social commentary going on in that one as well, almost more than the snarkiness. And then I just started one that, MM DeLuca, who's the author of The Nightside, I really enjoyed that one. And then I just interviewed

her and she said she was reading a book called The Spy Coast. I don't know how I hadn't heard about it at all. This seems like something I would have heard about once I, like, followed it on good reads. But it's about two or three. I just started it. So that's why I'm not entirely sure, but two or three women who are living, okay, I'm wrong. It's about, I don't know, it's about some women who are living in Maine who were spies that were forced into early retirement. So it's kind of the like that underdog vibe i'm guessing is when i'm getting like when you're kind of like forced out of your job but then someone shows up and secrets from both women's past cause them to basically act like spies again whether they are spies or not basically some secret

messes stuff up is what i know so far but i saw that it's even dual timeline and it's dual POVs and is a spy thriller. And I was like, this sounds perfect. So I'm on like chapter two. I have no extra info, but I'm excited about it. That sounds like something that I would have thought you'd have heard about, you know? Yeah. Because it just, I can't remember.

It came out in November of 2023. And I'm like, how was this like not on my radar at all? But I'm super excited. There's a short tagline. A retired CIA operative in small town, Maine, tackles the ghost of her past. So, yeah. Yeah. Did you ever read killers of a certain age or hear about it?

No. That was retired that were retired and they were, I guess, spies, assassins, kind of. And there was a little bit of commentary about just like aging, women, funny sometimes. Is this one kind of bad or is it more serious, like action-driven? Yeah. Yeah, it sounds like this one probably is. But yeah, I do remember this cover is so cool, too. I remember seeing that one, and I didn't end up reading it.

So I'm probably going to add that one to my list now, too. It's been a long time since I think that was one of my first audio books before I really knew what I was. Oh, nice. I probably should reread it. Yeah, it says 2022, I think is, yeah. It got, it was a nominee. for best mystery and thriller that year on Goodreads. So that's awesome.

Spy thrillers are so fun. I love them. Oh, yeah. Whenever I see them, I think about you. I did read one here recently. I won't say what it was, but I read one last year or at the beginning of this year where I didn't realize that the author was trying to have the take of like

there are admin jobs that are boring paper pushers in the spy world and so like nothing was happening and I was like I think this was the wrong spy thriller for me yeah I mean we don't have to get too much into it but in my head I'm like well wait how is it still a spy thriller so anyway yeah it felt more like a drama maybe which is okay but yeah today with your first spot or do you want me to ask you yeah yeah um we have always talked about how much we love revenge thrillers so that was why i thought of it when i thought of you because we just we love a vengeful story for the most part but the number one one that came to my mind and it has so much to do with the ending which obviously i won't talk about but the ending is probably my most favorite full circle

revenge moment that I will always think of. And it's, of course, the last housewife from Ashley Winstead. I just had to talk about her. Oh, you picked it too. No, it was on my, I think you'll probably talk about it stack, but I wanted to. You just knew. It was like, again, I was like, how many times have I talked about it? But I was like, but it's just true. Like, that ending is seared in my mind. I'll just read the synopsis, though. While in college, College in upstate New York, Shea Evans and her best friends met a captivating man who seduced them with a web of lies about the way the world works, bringing them under his thrall. By senior year, Shea and her friend Laurel were the only ones who managed to escape.

Now, eight years later, Shea's built a life in a tiny Texas suburb, but when she hears the horrifying news of Laurel's death, delivered of all ways by her favorite true crime podcast crusader. She begins to suspect that the past she thought she buried is still very much alive, and the predators are more dangerous than ever. Recruiting the help of the podcast host, Shea goes back to the place she vowed never to return in search of answers. As she follows the thread of her friend's life, she's pulled into a dark seductive world where wealth and privilege shield brutal philosophies that feel all too familiar. When Shea's obsession with uncovering the truth becomes so consuming that she can no longer separate her desire for justice from darker

desires newly reawakened. She must confront the depths of her own complicity and conditioning, but in a world built for men to rule it, both inside the cult and outside of it, is it is justice even possible? And if so, how far will She go to get it? It's not totally textbook revenge, because it's not necessarily her obsession at the beginning, but very much gets to revenge at the end. It's just one of my favorites the whole time. Oh, that ending was solid. Did you picture, I don't know why, but I pictured the main villain, I guess you could say,

as Don Draper from Mad Men. Oh my gosh, so much, so much so. Like maybe not literally, but it was like, that is exactly who I was thinking of. Yes. Okay. Because I love, I've seen, I've seen John Hamm play fun and I've seen him play nasty. And so I just couldn't get it out of my head. Yes. That could be him. Yes.

I agree. That fits him. Yeah, that fits it perfectly. Now I just want to adapt it to TV so bad. It would be such a good TV show. Yeah, that would be really interesting. So one of the last times when you're talking to Audrey about, um, Just so everyone knows if they're keeping up, that was my book club that I picked this book for.

Yes. It was intense. So I will say, one of the darkest books I've read, if you have not so many thrillers, just like buckle up if you're going to go into this book. I know. But if you can, if you are into it and make it, it is worth it. I know. I was thinking the same thing when I was talking about it because you had told me that it is not a beginner thriller.

This is not a thriller. for the beginning of your thriller journey for sure it is just she goes she goes as dark as she can in every direction that she examines in this book yeah um that i did love i actually met ashley at an author event and i asked her about how at the end of her books i guess her publisher has her answer these like ask the author questions yeah so if you if you if you If whoever is interested in reading this book, please make sure to read that because her explanations of why she writes what she writes in this book is always so fascinating. She's so brilliant.

I know. She is. I don't know how she does it. Oh, my God. It's like, what's happening in your brain? Because it's amazing. I know. And then she writes romance.

It's wild. Balance. Yes. Okay. I think I'm going to start with the weight of blood by Tiffany D. Jackson. And so this one is a Y.A. thriller. And I don't read a ton of YA, but to me, this was definitely, if you're not really into the dialogue always, I thought it was read like an adult book to me. I'm going to read the back.

There's two different synopsies. The one in the back said, it was tradition that the outgoing seniors of Springville, high converged into a caravan downtown on the way to their respective dances. The townspeople would line the main street parade route in lawn chairs and catch glimpses of the party goers in their fine gowns and tuxedos. No one knew it would be the last time most of them would be seen alive. So this is a prom story, perfect for spring. It is, I would say, inspired by Carrie by Stephen King. so you might see some of the plot and think it looks really familiar.

But the main character is her dad tried to hide the fact that she was biracial her whole life and it kind of comes out in her high school that she is and it's set in modern day Georgia but they still had segregated proms

and this year is their first one where they're integrating together and it just goes berserk and the main character's name is Maddie. She makes the town pay, and it's pretty satisfying. I've got to bump that one up. It's another one that I just haven't gotten to, but I know it's like one of the few YA thrillers you love.

I know Gare loved it. So many people loved it. Yeah. Just need to do it. Pull the trigger. Yeah, I will say I have now read almost all of her backlist, and this is the one that's most thriller-like. They're all mysterious in their own way,

but this one definitely has a different feel than the rest. So just if anyone else is interested in her books, they're all really good, really emotional, get really mad reading them. But this one's the most like thriller-ish to me. That's good to know. Yeah. Yeah, I need to add that one.

Because I have, there are like, there have been some Y.A. that I have just totally loved. So I feel like this is another one that I would. Yeah. I think it's mostly the fact that it's just like at a high school and set up. Yeah. For example, I don't think that Carrie's considered why. Like it's still an adult thriller. So it's interesting. That's a good point. What makes something categorized as YA? I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. Typically, I guess just their age. But yeah, like people, we were talking about euphoria. Euphoria is pretty.

adult even though it takes place in high school so clearly it exists um well mine is mine is very different my next one is and i've kind of talked about it on here a little bit but i don't think i've even ever read the synopsis but this was one of the most unique takes on a revenge thriller that i've read in a while and it's kill for me kill for you by steve cavanaugh it comes out in July. So it's not out yet, but it was such a unique example of it that I had to include it in this subject. So one dark evening on New York City's Upper West Side, two strangers meet by chance. Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realized they have much in common, especially loneliness and an intense desire for revenge against the men who destroy their families.

As they talk into the night, they come up with the perfect, if you kill for me, I'll kill for you. In another part of this city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband Scott is invaded. She's attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again with the blue-eyed stranger is still out there? So their stories obviously end up interconnecting in this, but you like go into it thinking, like, oh, this is like a stranger's on train. That's the gist of it or the trope or whatever you want to call it. But then like it flips on you and then it flips a second time and you're like it's just the most unique take on that trope that I've read because like it's still a fun trope.

Like even even just having like oh you meet up and you both want someone killed. But this one is very, very, very unique and like pulls off some pretty impressive. twists. So if you're a net galley person, it might be worth requesting. But if not, it's definitely worth saving for summer. I'm excited. I've heard great things about that one from you. I've seen another friend, I think, read it and couldn't get down. So that's all that's encouraging. Yeah, I saw a bit of everything books posted about it. And then that was what made me requested on net galley. And I got it. really quickly and I was like I'm just going to read it because normally I like try to for the most part of course I have a system for it read like what's like my most the most recent I don't know why

I can't figure out how to say this publication date so like kind of read in order of publication date that way but this was one where I was like I just have to read it now yeah yeah so good totally it's also very very dark like this was one where even Gare was texting me and he was like, this is kind of sad. And I was like, yeah, I know. So it is another one where like kind of a warning. It's pretty dark and sad and rage inducing. But it's revenge. So I feel like that's also to be expected. Okay. So now that you say that, I know which one I'm going to talk about next when it comes speaking of rage inducing. Yes. So one that I just. One that I just,

finished and I think when we were talking about it, we talked about doing this episode is called The Golden Cage. I wondered if you were going to include that one. Yeah. Yes. So this is translated, I believe, from Swedish. Oh, nice. And the cover is stunning.

I was actually recommended. I was in Minneapolis. I went to a thriller-themed bookstore, which I would call out here, but I cannot remember the name of it right now. And I told them all the things that I really like in books and a lot of them that she suggested I had already read. But so then she suggested this one and I'm so glad she did. Yes. So I guess I'm not going to read the synopsis.

I just, it's three parts. The first part is the most rage inducing. The first part is about this woman's marriage to this. I'm just going to say it. He's a tool bag of a husband. Right. It's very accurate right off the get-go. And then there's a new timeline within that part of your kind of learning that something happened in her past as well.

But she's a really smart woman. She helped her husband start his business. Of course, she takes no credit. But then in parts two and three, the revenge, her marriage is over. and she has this wonderful slow, slow, long game plan for revenge. And in my head, I'm just like, oh, only a woman could do this. She's doing her thing, starting her own business. She's got this long game plan and she's patient.

It's just so perfect. But I think not only the revenge of this story is so satisfying. It's also the way that she. leans on her female friends. And they call each other and it's almost like a team. And it just like, I was crying during part of it. And I'm like, if I'm crying, it's five stars. So.

Wow. Oh, yeah. Totally. Yeah. So it really was like awesome revenge, but also just the importance of having women on your team. Yeah. And I think there is a sequel.

I am very nervous to pick it up because I was so satisfied with the end of the first one, but I'm going to have it on my TBR just in case. And it is her, because like sometimes sequels are like different people. You think it's still her though? It's called in Goodreys. It says phase revenge number two. Nice. I think that's perfect. I read that it's a continuation of something that happens with her husband. Yeah. So I believe so. I feel like, you would love, I think it's called Bad Sisters on Apple TV, but if you are ever, because I know you've talked about, I don't know why my head is so itchy. I apologize for anyone who's watching video and it just looks like I'm turning all around. I know you've talked about how much

you love like strong female relationships in books. And that's like, it's such a perfect example of that. And it's such a good thriller. I wish I could rewatch that one. Apple CD. Okay. Got it. I can't believe. So normally I save, because I have a bunch of net galleys I read. Normally, but then like there's two, two times Kindles points where like they'll just email you and they'll be like you get double the points. So normally I like know which books I'll be like, okay, these are the books I want to buy here soon. So I'll do it the next time because I feel like they have it like twice a month. and doubt the golden cage was what I was forgetting because they had two times points this

Friday and I was like I know there's another book what is it and I couldn't think of it and that's what it was so I might just have to get it on a non two times points day but that's okay so sounds so good no it was um I knew so one of my friends in one of my book clubs her handle is cat with a k cat's reading again supposedly she creating like a revenge list like for content on her bookstagram and she had told me that when she was doing her question box on her stories that multiple people had brought up the golden cage so I was like I've got to just do it like I think that I have these books and I'm like I know I'm going to like it and I'm going to save it for the right time and I just I'm like just

pick it up I don't know I know I agree so Yeah, I have a couple. That's how I need to do that with like Catherine Ryan Howard's books. Those are the ones lately where I'm like, I just need to read them. I know I'm going to love every single one. I know. But one, an author who I also feel that way about and I'm excited because I just got, I just got on that galley, his book that comes out this summer. David Ellis, look closer. One of my just all-time favorite books ever. Like I will, I will always come back to thinking about this book. I also think, putting it on record, I would, I probably always strive to write something that's amazing because the way these multiple perspectives came together is insane. But it is about Simon and Vicky, who couldn't seem more normal. A wealthy Chicago couple, he a respected law professor, she an advocate for domestic violence victims, a stable if unexciting marriage. But one thing's for sure, absolutely nothing is what it seems. The pair are far from normal and one of them just may be a killer. When the body of a beautiful socialite is found hanging in a mansion in a nearby suburb,

Simon and Vicky's secrets begin to unravel, a secret whirlwind affair, a $20 million trust fund about to come due, a decades-long grudge and obsession with revenge. These are just a few of the lies that make up the complex web, and they will have devastating consequences. And while both Vicki and Simon are liars just who exactly is conning who. Still just one of my all-time favorites. And what was kind of funny is like when I thought of it, I was like, I can't remember if saying that it's a revenge book gives like any spoiler away because of like the things I was thinking about.

And then I read the synopsis and it says like obsession with revenge. And I was like, okay, cool, we're good. Yeah. It's more like finding out who's. who is seeking revenge, I think, is actually what the, like, big moment is at the end. Yeah. That book is a chunk, but it goes so fast. That's the other thing that everyone I talked to about it says.

It's 450 pages. And, like, everyone talked about, like, I was intimidated at first, and then I flew through it. And that was exactly, like, I flew through it. Yeah. I'm still bummed. One of my book clubs read that, and David Ellis came. he lives in Chicago. Yeah.

It's like a snow day. So I'm just like shocked that he was like so dedicated to still make it. But I guess we're going to be reading his next book in the summer. I'm trying. And I think he might come again. So I'm going to. Nice. For to make it for that one.

Because I guess he's just so cool. Yeah. He's he's been so nice like when I, from where I follow him. The best lies is what it's called. The next one. It comes out in July. It looks like it's not on good reads. So that's interesting.

But yeah, he's always so sweet on Instagram. Yeah. It seems nice. I know. I think he's an actual lawyer too. Yeah, I think so. And it's interesting. Maybe it's just a few that I've seen.

It looks like he's teamed up with other authors for books before. I don't remember if it's James Patterson or something. I think you're right. He wrote just solo. Yeah, you're right. He has because I remember seeing that. I don't see it in his good reads, but it might, they may be listed differently. Sometimes that's what happens. Yeah. But I'm so talented. And yeah, the twists just keep coming. I know. You want to keep readings. This huge book is because it, you're just, I don't know, it's great. I, yeah, the scope of the story is wild too. Like when everything comes together. You're like, how did you keep track of all of that? Yeah. Totally. So cool. well done David Ellis I imagine what the pressure is when you have so many people that like are so in love with that book to write a second book or write another of the next book I guess I should say yeah yeah I agree or like when your debut is like that that's got to be even more yeah intimidating to write your second one oh you're like first experience is that right right I get that well

Well, okay, so speaking of chunks that move fast, I did talk about the last time I was on, so I'll very briefly mention it, but it is one of my favorite revenge stories is the Mind Fuck series. But just very briefly, Lana is the main character. She's from this small town, and I guess especially the men of the small town with something like really bad to her and her friends. And no one really like went to bat for her. And so she left along with one of her best friends and has been like plotting this amazing revenge story for years. And then she happens to fall in love with an FBI agent.

So it's just kind of a conflict of interest based on the scale of her revenge plan, which is very great. So five short books in one. if you're reading it on Kindle or anything, it's going to have a bunch of different covers. But if you do find the big book, it's probably, I don't know, 680 pages, but it goes so quickly. So I don't, I haven't seen a review that is low on this. When I first found it on Amazon, I was like, what actually has a five? Like what? Right.

So, I mean, people love it. whether they're romance fans, thriller fans, I highly recommend. Yeah. And your nails match the cover. You, like, looked like the cover when you were holding it. Matt Black is my jam. Oh, yeah. I used to do Matt Black Nails there for a little bit.

I always love your hopping. It works with everything. It does. Yeah. Yeah. When you pointed out last week that the author's name is, like, stabby, I was like, that is just, like, the coolest author thing I'm ever going to hear about. I know, and I'm trying to, I don't remember, I think I read it briefly somewhere that I don't know if she did, had another pseudonym for other romances, but this was like a thriller romance that the pseudonym was used.

So, yeah, it's very clever. I love that. Well, my next one, I saw your review and I had to read it. So this one, I think this one was translated as well from French, is an inconvenient woman by, there it is. I was hoping to talk about it. You knew I could have helped myself. Stephanie Buellens is my best guest, but is probably a much prettier pronunciation in French. And it's about two women, or at least we follow two women.

Claire Fontaine is convinced that her ex-husband killed their teenage daughter all those years back and believes he's capable of killing again. When she sees him move in with another woman to play stepfather for a girl the same age as the one she lost, Claire tries desperately to warn the new bride of the danger her family is in. But when the woman dismisses her admonishments, she feels she must make, must take matters. I swear I can read into her own hands and stop the crime she failed to stop before. Sloan Wilson left the LAPD to work as a sin-eater, a contractor for hire who specializes in cleaning up inconvenient situations, situations which, for whatever reason, are better handled outside the law. Like for an example, an ex-wife who stalks her former husband, throws paint on his door and makes vague, violent threats to his new wife. A domestic

dispute like that can get messy when the cops are called. Plus, there's a risk that their presence will aggravate the woman in question. As Sloan investigates her new mission, however, she finds that there is more to it than meets the eye, uncovering a history of trauma that casts aspersions on the stories of both Claire and Sloan's client. In a case where objective truth is increasingly muddled by passions, suspicions, and fear, she soon loses the ability to distinguish fact from fiction. But Sloan knows one, for certain sometimes the only way to prevent a crime is by committing one this is just it was just this is another one again we're like the way that multiple storylines come together at the end just like

blew my mind yeah and like the ending like speaks so much to the themes of the book is like another vague way to not spoiler it or spoil it spoiler it oh my goodness it's and what's awesome too is that it's so powerful but it's really short. I think six or seven hours on audio and and oh yeah actors are so short. So it's it's quick and it packs a punch. It's so good. Yeah. It's like 312 pages. Yeah. It's what this says. Oh, I loved it. I'm so glad you posted about it. I'm so glad you loved it. Yeah. Totally. And the cover is so cool. Everyone who sees it is like that cover. And I'm like, I know. Wasn't the title just like get some emotions going?

From the get go. Yeah. Yeah, it's another one where when you find the title in the book, you're like, oh, my God, that was amazing. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. It's, I guess what I'll say is the last few pages. I was listening on audio and I remember telling AJ, my husband, I was like, I just need a few

minutes. And I was, like, it was a good book all the way through. but I was like dancing almost and cheering at the end because it was just so much. I agree. It's so perfect. Again, all I can really say is the way the themes even come together for the end are so good. And the twists are like near the, it's not like a huge twist, but some of the reveals at the end are so perfect too. it's interesting that you say that about twists because as I was going through and picking what

books I was going to talk about today I've realized that some of the revenge stories to me aren't as like twisty thrillers it's it's more this emotional journey of like get them you know and someone's just like justice and yeah you think about how like the next book I'll talk about you think about how there's some people that like either because they're rich or whoever they are they're never going to pay for whatever they've done and so like you and I are being like anyagram ones like more so those rule followers like we probably would never do it but we have to so we just have to cheer for the people that would we have to live vicariously yes yes it's like you're cheering it just is the the prime example of like support

women's rights and wrongs. Yes. Oh my gosh. I love that quote. I support women's wrongs. So this next book I heard about from on bookstagram, her name is Kimmy's Bookshelf. And it's called You Know Her. It is, I have never tabbed a book this often in my life.

You can't really see it that much. Yeah. I think it's a debut, Megan Janet, Janet. J-E-N-E-T-T is the last name. And kind of how I was just saying, there's not a lot of twists. This woman is just so fed up with how men's behavior is around her. I think she's known women where bad things have happened. And all of a sudden, she's making her way into becoming like a female serial killer.

And the other perspective. is a detective that's new to town and new on this police department, one of the only women on the squad. And I will say this book, there's a lot going on. And I think there's a lot that the author was trying to do. People might feel like it's almost too much that not everything fleshed out. But I can see where she was going and there's some really cool ideas there. I almost hope that there's a sequel about the detective. Whoa. Because the detective can kind of like, I don't know if they're ghosts.

I think they call it in the South. They're called Haints, H-A-I-N-T-S. I'm not sure if you've heard any more from around there. But like she can see, I guess, spirits, dead people. So, like, there's just a lot going on. And I hope to hear more from her character. But who are someone that's, you are someone that's, just wants to be like, oh, hell yeah, about a lot of quotes in a book.

This could be useful. Nice. I mean, that's a great review, really. Oh, thanks. Yeah. You convince me. That cover is so unique, too. It is.

I like that. And, you know, slowly descending into becoming a serial killer is always intriguing. Yeah, it is. Or possible. And there's interesting things throughout the book that the author did. Like certain chapters will have titles like Persephone, which I believe is like the goddess of the underworld. I believe it's like Pate's wife or partner or something. Yeah, I think so.

So there's just, I always find those little pieces of all kinds of lore to be interesting to incorporate. So there's just some interesting pieces to that book that I'm interested to see what her next. book would be like. Yeah, definitely. Well, getting the minds of dark females, which probably has been the whole theme. But my last one, I couldn't not talk about, never saw me coming by Vera Curian. I always struggle to say her last name. Definitely a character motivated by revenge.

Meet Chloe Severi. She's a freshman honor student, a leggings wearing hot girl next door, who also happens to be a psychopath. Her hobbies include yoga lotties, frat parties, and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her. Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study for psychopaths. Students like herself who lack empathy and can't comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. The study, led by a renowned psychologist, requires them to wear smart watches that track their moods and movements. When one of the students in the study is found murdered in the psychology building, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from Hunter to prey. As she races to identify the killer and put her own plan into action, she'll be forced to decide if she can trust any of her fellow psychopaths, and everyone knows you should never trust a psychopath.

So I have so many things going on at once is like the other fun part of it. But she did pick her college to kill Will Bachman. So revenge is like very forward to the story. Yes. I love Vera Curian's sense of humor. Yeah. And how she writes that character is, it's fun to read. It is.

It's a really, like, and if you like dark academia, you're probably going to love it no matter what. Like there are so many different, but if you like psychopaths or sociopaths as characters, it's fun. And there are twists. There are twists at the end. For sure. Yeah, I remember, I think I heard about the book. It might have been from Gehr talking about it. That's how I found out about it.

And put it on my radar. And I remember reading it and being like, well, there's no way I'm not going to really enjoy this book. And I should. I know. Yeah. It's how I'm excited for society of lies too, actually, in terms of like dark academia. I'm like, I know I'm going to love this one. Yes. I'm excited. When does that one come out, August? August, I think, yeah. So I want to read it, but I kind of want to let it hang out on my neck now. Me too. I'll do it until it's closer. Yeah. I'll probably read it in like July, most likely. I am, okay, so I'm, I had a fifth book that I was going to talk about because I had a

assumed that you would talk about this one, but we didn't. And they never learn. Yes, that was like on my list, on my backup. I feel like if there's anyone that's a thriller reader, especially a female thriller reader, I kind of assumed that a lot of us have read it already, but I don't want to not have someone, have someone not know about it. Yeah, I agree. But it's about Scarlett Clark, who is a very memorable character. She's an English professor and she's even better at getting away with murder. She goes after men who do shitty things. And I would say that and it's very satisfying.

Yes. And it's a dark academia feeling too, even though she's a professor. But same feeling. Yeah. It is one of the first books I think I read in a day. It was like a snow day and I just couldn't put it down. It's really fast-paced. I love the character of Scarlet and it starts with bang right away of like her first project, I guess you could say.

Yeah. That's definitely. I want to read because so you just read Young Rich Widows recently, right? Yeah, I just finished it. Yeah. I want to read that. but then I was looking at Lane Fargo's I was looking at all the authors on there I was looking at all their stuff like oh what haven't I read from them and she has a book called temper which like also

it says it's a tale of ambition deceit and power so I'm like how have I not I don't feel like I'd even seen it I was just like looking on good reads and I'm like well I need to read that now too well exactly so when I was looking at they never learned I just saw that her like little mini bio says she, Lane Fargo writes thrillers about angry women, period. Oh, period. I love it. Emperor, I believe it has something to do with ballet.

I could be wrong. Chicago theater scene? Yeah. It might be ballet. In the theater. Maybe it's acting. I'm not sure. But then her newest film is out soon is figure skating.

So I'm just. Yes. Yes, the favorites. I'm like, let's do it. I have known nothing. I know. I probably picked it up, but the fact that it's Lane Fargo, I'm like, all right. Yep, here we go.

I thought the same thing, because someone, who was it that just told me? I can't remember. She was right before I saw the announcement that it's like Wuthering Heights in the figure skating world. And like that also, like, I probably wouldn't have ever picked something up with a Wuthering Heights comparison, but I'm like, If it's Lane Fargo, I need to read it. I know. But yeah, also, Temper is compared to fans of the film Black Swan. So maybe there is ballet.

I don't know. We'll have to read it and find out. Yeah, I think it's, that might be her debut, or I believe it was before. I think it is. I think I saw that it was her debut or there was like maybe, no, yeah, that is. So Temper was first, then they never learn, and then Young Rich would have. and now the favorites, but that hasn't made it to Goodreads yet. You know, I did happen to just take a peek at NetGalley, even though I knew it wasn't even close, but I was just like, yeah.

I know. I always, like, when I see it on Instagram, there's so many times I'm scrolling and then I like switch over to NetGalley. I'm like, maybe this will be there. I know. I know. That is how I got David. Why can't I remember? Yeah, David Ellis is.

All of a sudden it sounded like his name wasn't David when I said it. but like literally when he like announced his book i was like is it on net galley and it was and i got like two days later so i was like thankfully i saw it early nice yeah is that or those is that your whole list for today i do kind of have one other one i wanted to mention just so i didn't know which yeah i brought a stack and i figured that you'd probably talk about some of them so i just wanted to mention them without talking yeah we go first yeah well my other one that because I had some backups too. My other one was Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suter-Clark because same reason actually as the last housewife. That's why I was so torn on it. But it's ones that

like the ending scene is like just peak full circle revenge story. And it's about a woman who returns to her hometown that is like really kind of controlled a little bit by the megachurch that is there and she basically got out of there as quickly as she could. But her like childhood love interest dies and they say it was an accident and she's like, I just don't believe that it was an accident. So she kind of goes back to figure that out. And in facing all of the things from her past, it also turns into a bit of a revenge story. Totally. Love that book. So good. That one in the last housewife, I'll probably always talk about their endings with the same level of excitement. Oh, yeah. I just realized I lent my mom never lay me down to make sure.

Check as if you liked it and also make sure I get it back sometimes because I'm like, don't donate that one. I want it back. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Like I might, I might need this one day. Yeah. That belongs on my shelf. Have you read Girl 11 by her? no I bought it I need I need to read it because Gare said he really enjoyed it I've seen great things yeah yeah I need to add that or prioritize it a little bit I got so many net galleys which like I said I was going to stop requesting and then I can't help myself it's so fun to just scroll as I know as possible and then I just didn't know how it goes yeah yeah I do um one of of the lost ones that I just wanted to mention, I think a lot of people have read it. It's pretty

popular is the change by Kristen Miller. And it's about three approaching menopause, if not, within that stage of life, women. And they have powers, I guess you could say. One, her rage and hot flashes create like heat, literal heat that she can hurt people. One, she has like plant power kind of which I think is super cool her name is Harriet third woman hears voices and can see the dead and because of her they find out that there's been quite a few deaths in the area where they live and they seek revenge for that but it is long I do yeah audio was really good the narrator's amazing so it's worth the length in my opinion yeah

Yeah, a lot of people do love that one. Mm-hmm. You read it. Yeah. I kind of fit thriller readers and not thriller readers, I think, is what I've noticed. Yes. Yes. I recommended it.

It was an option for one of the book clubs that I am running. Yeah. The folks that they kind of read it anyways, even though it wasn't fit and really liked it. Yeah. If I can grow up and be like Harriet, I think that'd be cool. I love that I love magical realism in small places like if I would you know I think a lot of us the plants and everything yeah I'm being realistic I would be I can't remember who it is what her name is but I would definitely be the one whose heat I'm so hot all the time I'm so hot all the time we can balance each other out we just need yeah you can be the plant girl and I will be

the hot flash girl. We'll seek revenge on someone. Yeah. Yeah, perfect. Did you have any other ones? I don't think so. I'm trying to remember if there were any that I didn't just write down or that I didn't pull up.

I don't think so. I know, I'm sure there are more. But yeah, I didn't have any others written down. It can come up in so many, even if it doesn't seem more. like a revenge book but my last I just had asked for Andrea by Noel W I Lee and it's about this man who um these well these three women were murdered it's more about them and their spirits still remain but it's not scary it's not like a horror ghost story right characters and they're once they kind of figure out what happened to them they prevent it from happening again um yeah

And keeping this guy from continuing his awful practice. So this one, I think it's about justice and the helpers, which I thought was really great. But that's my last one. Yeah, the cover is so cool for that one, too. You read some of her other ones too, right? I did. And I have the remaining ones on my shelf. I think she has one coming out the 22nd, which is this next week.

Oh, nice. But what I've noticed about her books are so far, they're really fast-paced. I mean, the two I've read, but I've also heard about some of the other ones. They're really fast-paced, and they are tense. Like you're constantly wondering where it's going. Yeah. I need to read those, too. So many books.

I know. I'm with neck galley now, too. I'm like, man, there's art books that are out and exist that I feel like I can be reading. And now there's ones that are upcoming. And what am I? Future. Yes. There's like the pool of future books.

I think what happens to me too is like I will see someone post about a book that's coming out. And then I'm like, well, that sounds great. And then I'm like, well, I don't want to like not get access to it. And so then I request it. I'm like, but there are other books. I know. I know.

Well, I mean, and it's true. If you're a cost conscious person, it is a way to get them without purchasing. but I do know that there's ones that if I love them enough, like I'll want them to support the author in that way too. Yeah. Yeah. It is. There's just so many options on NetGalley.

Yeah. Crazy. But I got my first rejection. That was sad. I still get them. I am sure. And they don't always make sense. I know.

The ones that I do or don't get basically. Like sometimes it's like, I got that one, but not that one? Okay. I know. It's really an interesting game, but it is kind of the fun of it, too. There's some where I'm like, I would love to read this, but I honestly hope you reject me because I have too many. I wouldn't have to be bad. That's funny.

Yeah. Well, for now, everyone has a lot of revenge books that they can read. Yes. If anyone has any, that they have. recommend that are comparable to ones. I'm always looking for them because like I said, I went to a bookstore and I asked kind of for this genre and a lot of the suggestions were really good, but I'd already read them. So if people have more. Yes. Keep them churning into the DMs. Yes. Send them our way.