My Favourite Thrillers: Recommendations from a crime-avoidant reader.

Okay, let me be upfront with you right away: crime novels and I do not get along. There’s just something about the traditional crime/thriller/mystery format of following a detective around, trying to suss out whodunnit that inspires nothing in me but the need to doze off. So, when I find one where the premise intrigues me even a little, I jump at the chance to potentially find a thriller I’ll fall in love with. avoidant

Now, I know what you’re gonna say. ‘But if you know you don’t like them why do you bother picking something up you know you probably won’t enjoy?’ And yes, sometimes this is as big a failure as you’d probably expect but every so often I find myself completely enthralled and asking myself, “Um, excuse me, remind me again why you don’t read more thrillers?”

Here are just a few of the crime, mystery and thriller books that well and truly shattered my expectations. There are three Young Adult picks and three Adult ones, with a few familiar titles as well as some lesser-knowns. Whether you’re thriller obsessed or a self-proclaimed “hater” like me, hopefully there will be one here that catches your attention.

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Review: The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

Nora O’Malley’s been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother’s protégé. But when mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape.

For five years Nora’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems:

#1: Her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they’re all friends, Wes didn’t know about her and Iris.

#2: The morning after Wes finds them kissing, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised at the bank. It’s a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly, because:

#3: Right after they enter bank, two guys start robbing it.

The bank robbers may be trouble, but Nora’s something else entirely. They have no idea who they’re really holding hostage…

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