Page 2 | If I like Lisa Jewell and Louise Candlish...

BetsyBobbins · 2023-08-09T10:35:33+00:00

What could you recommend me please? I like their books (Jewell more than Candlish) and I'm trying to find similar books. I read Nicci French the other day and I really didn't like it, I thought it was badly written and predictable. I like my murder mysteries and thrillers like The Girl on the Train and the above, what can you recommend me please? Thanks

Needhelp101 · 20/08/2023 17:13

Tootingbec · 17/08/2023 08:36

I love a psychological thriller and current writers I like are Sabine Durant, Erin Kelly and Nicki French (but NOT the Frida Kline series - shit and all the characters are annoying and not in a good way)

I would however definitely recommend Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine (same person!). She is the queen of psychological thrillers and so much better than some of the authors mentioned on this thread - whose books I have read and enjoyed but they are like going to Nando’s vs a fabulous meal you never forget. Erin Kelly is very open that she is heavily influenced by Ruth Rendell btw.

Everything in her books unfolds in slow motion and you almost want to “look away” as the story unravels. Not all of RR/BV as good but I would recommend:

A Dark Adapted Eye (Barbara Vine)
Going Wrong (Ruth Rendell)
A judgement in stone (RR)
A Fatal Inversion (BV)
The lake of Darkness (RR)

Honestly once you have read these you will realise what a load of shite there is out there masquerading as psychological thriller fiction. I am looking at you BA Paris

I agree with every word of this post!

ZolaBudd · 20/08/2023 09:12

I liked “everyone here is lying “ or similar

Clawdy · 20/08/2023 09:11

Erin Kelly. The Burning Air has one of the best twists ever.

MrsRachelDanvers · 20/08/2023 06:37

Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty is a good one. Out of the writers mentioned, I rate Claire Mackintosh-I’ve read lots of the others as 99p deals on Kindle and think that they’re worth that. Rachel Abbott and Mark Edwards are prolific on Kindle and pretty decent.Early Harlan Coben is very good-try Tell No One. Lots of his books have been adapted as TV. I liked Alys Always by Harriet Lane-more interesting g than the usual. And do read Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller if you haven’t already-a classic for a reason.

boboshmobo · 20/08/2023 06:22

I'm making my way through Lisa Jewell books on my kindle . They are so enjoyable to read and you can pick them up and put them down like a magazine that is always there .

I'm going to read through this thread but add Heidi Perks . She has a new one out called the last resort I'm going to read next .

sparklefresh · 19/08/2023 22:11

*Hayder

sparklefresh · 19/08/2023 22:11

Mo Haydee books are good but DARK. Ruth Rendell v good. You'd like Ruth Ware I think.

I also don't think Nicci French is up to much 😂

Skinnyfries · 19/08/2023 22:03

I really enjoy many of Lisa Jewell's books too. I would recommend Diane Chamberlain as another of my current favourites.

Helpmefly · 19/08/2023 21:58

I loved wolf too so was thinking of trying some mo hayder.

Original poster

BetsyBobbins · 19/08/2023 17:31

I've watched Wolf (BBC IPlayer) last week and I loved it! It got me interested in the books of Mo Hayder but I saw that nearly all of them have a paedophilia (sub)plot going on and it is obvious you'd have to space them out a bit otherwise it'd be too heavy I think

OP posts:

Original poster

BetsyBobbins · 19/08/2023 17:23

Glad I opened this thread as I've got a few suggestions now.

@Tootingbec I'm glad you agree the Frieda Klein series has got annoying characters, I didn't care about any of them. Maybe I'll try another book of theirs and see how it goes.

Ruth Rendell, this is someone I need to get reacquainted with. I read one book of hers ages ago and I need to catch up with the other ones. Not to be nostalgic, but sometimes I re read an Agatha Christie and think, "Who would be writing like that these days?", and the answer is no one, sadly. PD James, Christie, Rendell, who can be their successor(s)?

I think my problem is that I read one too many crime books and watched a lot of Scandi drama, so there's very little in terms of plot that I don't see it coming miles ahead.

I don't really think Jewell and Candlish are exceptional writers but I think they're good enough. Candlish is enjoyable because she's got a thing for making middle class people suffer (I'm not a classist, I swear!).

What do you all think of Val McDermid's Karen Pirie series?

OP posts:

LonelyFlans · 17/08/2023 09:14

Sophie Hannah books might fit the bill

Fifiellz · 17/08/2023 08:49

Have a look at Claire Allan, not her early chicklit stuff but her last 5/6 psychological books I found really good.

Star0Fire · 17/08/2023 08:45

Ooh I like Lisa Jewell!

I recommend K L Slater (Blink is very good!)

Also Diane Chamberlain (Dream daughter and the Silent Sister are so good have read both twice in the past year)

Alice Hunter- the serial killers wife (though this is the only book of hers I've read so far but I loved it)

Mykittensmittens · 17/08/2023 08:44

You can’t bear Clare Mckintosh, that one you have but also the other two ‘early’ ones which were published - ‘let me lie’ and ‘I let you go’ are brilliant for the twists.

on a similar vein - ‘into the darkest corner’ by Elizabeth Haynes has stuck with me a long time.

Tootingbec · 17/08/2023 08:36

I love a psychological thriller and current writers I like are Sabine Durant, Erin Kelly and Nicki French (but NOT the Frida Kline series - shit and all the characters are annoying and not in a good way)

I would however definitely recommend Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine (same person!). She is the queen of psychological thrillers and so much better than some of the authors mentioned on this thread - whose books I have read and enjoyed but they are like going to Nando’s vs a fabulous meal you never forget. Erin Kelly is very open that she is heavily influenced by Ruth Rendell btw.

Everything in her books unfolds in slow motion and you almost want to “look away” as the story unravels. Not all of RR/BV as good but I would recommend:

A Dark Adapted Eye (Barbara Vine)
Going Wrong (Ruth Rendell)
A judgement in stone (RR)
A Fatal Inversion (BV)
The lake of Darkness (RR)

Honestly once you have read these you will realise what a load of shite there is out there masquerading as psychological thriller fiction. I am looking at you BA Paris

Crikeyalmighty · 16/08/2023 21:04

I like Lisa Jewell too- currently on another Paula Hawkins one-

Mind you I like Nicci French too

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 16/08/2023 20:58

Another vote for Cara Hunter

Helpmefly · 16/08/2023 20:44

Hope you enjoy..I just started her new book a game of lies which is the second in the DCI Morgan series

Original poster

BetsyBobbins · 16/08/2023 18:53

Bought this one and it took a minute to get going but now I'm hooked and can't put it down 👍🏼

If I like Lisa Jewell and Louise Candlish...

OP posts:

lazymum99 · 16/08/2023 18:02

Belinda Bauer
michael Robotham - Cyrus Haven series

ticketstickets · 14/08/2023 20:30

I love both those writers too, although I agree some of Jewells books are better than others.

I really like and think are similar in many ways: Barbara Vine, some but not all of Ruth Rendell - they are the same person in case you didn't know, but I like the vine books better in general. Many of Rendells books are great too although I strongly dislike any 'series' ones so not the Chief Inspector Wexford ones. Erin Kelly also has some really good books although, again, some are better then others.

I have read many of the others and they are good but not quite the same.

jeorge · 14/08/2023 19:41

42coats · 10/08/2023 23:56

Hats off to Jewel for churning them out but my god they're such unrealistic piles of...

The latest one is such shite.

42coats · 10/08/2023 23:56

Hats off to Jewel for churning them out but my god they're such unrealistic piles of...

maryberryslayers · 10/08/2023 23:50

K L Slater