It’s always nice to find a book that sucks you in from the first page. Entertaining, immersive, exciting, you just want to know what happens next. Unputdownable, we can say.
The only drawback of such books is that often life gets in the way. I can’t help but get annoyed when I’m at a particularly juicy part in the story, and I have to stop, ‘cuz you know, someone’s gotta work. (Yeah, that someone’s usually me in these cases.)
Now, you can’t always know what book will turn into one of those page turners that will transform you into Snappy McSnapperson if you have to part with it.
But I can warn you! If you like the sort of books I do, these five books will pose serious dangers to your otherwise (hopefully) calm demeanor.
The Retreat by Mark Edwards
Of course, I could list any other books by this author, this one just happens to be my latest fave. It has everything I look for in a suspense book. A bit of mystery, a tranquil, yet creepy writer’s retreat in a creaking, old house, disappearing people, voices coming from the walls. What more could you possibly want?
The Other Couple by Sarah J. Naughton
A beautiful, exotic island, perfect for a romantic honeymoon. But what if only half of the couple returns? But not only that. She has amnesia, and doesn’t remember what happened to her husband. Suspicious much? Oh, and guess what. Nobody in his family likes her?!
You Were Made For This by Michelle Sacks
Frenemies are having it out in a secluded house in the beautiful Swedish countryside. One a perfect wife & mother, the other… well, depends who you are asking I suppose. I absolutely loved the subtly creeping dread in this one!
The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
A chilling mystery that has its roots in 1986, five friends and some serious Stephen King vibes. Set in an unassuming small town, the story follows the friends as they investigate the mysterious chalk man drawings around town, only to stumble upon a gruesome murder. The Chalk Man was among my favourite books last year.
Niceville by Carsten Stroud
This book is the first in a trilogy, and it’s just the right amount of supernatural sprinkled over some mystery to make it very atmospheric and highly addictive Southern Gothic with a careful touch of horror. Add to this some cool ass character names like Rainy Teague, Boonie Hackendorff and Charlie Danziger, a bank robbery, and a disappearance that will have detectives chasing clues from hundred years ago, and you get just the right amount of eerie feeling that lingers around Niceville.
You have been warned!
Disclaimer: Norrie, a.k.a. the blogger under the blankie does not take any responsibility for missed work, skipped dinner, and sleepless nights. Read responsibly!
How about you guys? Read anything lately you couldn’t put down?
Top 5 Tuesday is hosted by Shanah @Bionic Bookworm
Great list, Norrie. I think a few of these books are just the type I like to read!
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Thank you 🙂
Hope you like whichever you pick!
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I haven’t read any of these, but You Were Made for This sounds just like my style. Thanks for sharing!
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I’m glad you found something up your alley 🙂
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I’ve never read any of these, I’m so excited to dive in! Thanks so much for the recommendations! 😀
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I literally just picked up The Chalk Man and I am dying to read it!!! I have to tackle my mountain of ARC’s first…. but I NEED to read it! LOL! Thanks for participating 🙂
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Oooh, exciting! Hope you’ll enjoy it too! ❤
Good luck with the ARCs!
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Thanks! You too!
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Fab list! I loved You Were Made For This too, it was so good! I have The Other Couple and The Chalk Man on my TBR so will try and get to them over the summer. I love when a book just grabs you from the first page and you can just get completely lost in the story.
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Ah, the Other Couple is a great choice for summer I think 🙂 With a summer holiday being half of the premise and all.
Enjoy!
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I love this list because I’ve only read one, so I have all the rest ahead of me- yay! I’ve only read You Were Made for This and loved it! Great list, Norrie!
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Niceville sounds like just my kind of book! Thanks for sharing😁
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😀
I’m still baffled by the 3.3 rating on GR… i hope you enjoy it if you decide to try it!
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Hate it when life gets in the way of a good book! D:
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Right?? 😀
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The Retreat by Mark Edwards is in my Kindle and you just made me want to read it asap!!! I keep forgetting it, silly me! I liked The Chalk Man but something was missing in my opinion. Great list! x
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I remember i thought there was some unfinished stuff in Chalk Man, even mentioned it in my review at the time, but now i can’t remember what it was 😀
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I think I have seen most of them on your blog Norrie! And yes it’s so annoying when you get to the “juicy part” and have to stop reading LOL
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The only one i didn’t review on the blog is Niceville 🙂
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Great list! I really want to read The Chalk Man, I’ve heard only amazing things about it!
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Oh, i hope you do! 🙂
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Argggh! Five knock out titles, a couple of which I’ve already got on my wish list, including reading Mark Edwards. And Niceville sounds interesting, I mean southern Gothic? Oh yeah.
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Right? It’s so cool!
And Mark Edwards just knows a thing or two about suspense 😀
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It’s on the list!!
Oh. Is he also only on ebook? Hmm, I think I went looking for him and only found one actual paperback. Must check again.
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Oh, interesting. My friend bought all his books as paperback. Maybe they only available on UK Amazon? I’m not sure. Only the latest (novella) i know of came out only as e-book.
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Ignore me I got my authors mixed up. I found Edwards on Chapters/Indigo (my online bookshop). Phew, okay, just me being me. 😉
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Oh, yay 🙂
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I’ve got some books to read!
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Yay 😀
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Haha I love that disclaimer. You were made for this has one hell of a creepy cover. I can’t wait to read The Chalk Man. Loved The Retreat ❤
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Oh, i think you’ll love both of those 🙂
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So true! I can’t stand it when life gets in the way of good reading. It’s just as bad as someone coming up to you while you’re reading and constantly distracting you from your book. It’s like, “HEY! Me and this book were here first. Get outta here!” lol
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Ugh, right? People often do that in the office.
One time this dude sits down and goes “ah, so this is the reading corner?” and he starts chatting…
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Oh, no!! lol I would have been instantly annoyed. It’s sad how many people look at a person who is reading and thinks to themselves “Oh, a book! That poor person must be lonely if they’re bothering with that silly old thing. I better go and save them from their reading by talking to them.” 😛
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LOL! Seems to be the case!
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I agree, The Retreat was indeed unputdownable! That cover and blurb of You Were Made for This is so interesting, I really need to give it a go.
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Ooo, i hope you do! Enjoy 🙂
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Yes it’s so annoying when life gets in the way of a good read! The Other Couple sounds like a fun read- I’m a sucker sometimes for amnesia stories!
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They can sure create suspense! 😀
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I have The Retreat on my TBR, extra looking forward to it now 😀
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Oh, yay 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
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I’m binge reading everything with Jack Reacher by Lee Child and am litterally dreading to catch up!
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Oh, such fun! I’m really bad with series and have a lot of catching up to do 😀
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I’ve put everything else on hold since I listened to an audiobook I bought a few years ago and never got around listening to. And now I’m hooked! 🙂
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The last book I couldn’t put down was one you recommended & I totally was snappy when I had to for life reasons LOL. The Other Couple & You Were Made For This are going on my TBR right now! Thanks for your recs, Norrie. ♡
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Haha, classic 😀 The worst is when i have like 5 pages left and they just won’t let me have it!
Hope you like both of those books! ❤
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Great list, Norrie, and my TBR is growing with these recommendations! I bought Chalk Man last year but haven’t gotten around to reading yet… I really should try to do that at some point.
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Ooo, nice! Hope you will like it ❤ 🙂
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I really wanna read chalk man- glad you loved it so much!
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Ah, it was reaaaaally creepy. I’m currently reading her new book, and damn, that’s pretty creepy too 😀 She’s shaping up to become a new fave of mine.
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I have You Were Made For This, yeay! I think I’ll just pick it now now. I also found The Retreat on Kindle Unlimited, and downloaded. Productive session 🙂 Thanks Norrie!
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Oh niiiice! I think most of M. Edwards books are on unlimited and some in the lending library so if you have Prime, you can borrow them
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