Nishkarsha Kotian

1. How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

Premise:

A dark thriller about Grace Bernard, a woman who sets out to murder members of her estranged and wealthy family after being rejected by them.

My thoughts:

The title and premise had me hooked immediately. A woman systematically killing off her awful family? Sign me up.

But somehow, a book about murder ended up being… boring. It felt unnecessarily descriptive and slow. I switched to the audiobook midway because I kept zoning out while reading. The audiobook put me to sleep at least four times. Imagine a revenge murder story being that dull.

Verdict: Not recommended.

2. Saira Zariwala Is Afraid by Shabnam Minwalla

Premise:

Saira and her friends decide to play detective. But the light-hearted adventure soon turns dark and sinister. Someone is watching their every move. Someone thinks Saira knows much more than she does. Someone has killed once and is willing to kill again. Curiosity killed the cat. Will it kill Saira?

My thoughts:

This one was dark, creepy, and intense. Every twist felt believable, which made it even more unsettling. It is fiction, but the societal realities it reflects are very real.

The story stays with you.

Verdict: Recommended.

3. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Premise:

Four retirees in a peaceful English village meet weekly to investigate cold cases. When a real murder happens, they get involved.

My thoughts:

Super good. This book genuinely made me fall in love with reading again. The characters are witty, warm, and unexpectedly sharp.

Favorite quote:
“In life you have to learn to count the good days. You have to tuck them in your pocket and carry them around with you. So I’m putting today in my pocket and I’m off to bed.”

Verdict: Recommended.

4. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

Premise:

The Thursday Murder Club returns, this time entangled in international intrigue, diamonds, and multiple murders.

My thoughts:

Such a strong follow up. The familiar characters, layered plot, and the same sharp, dry humor made it impossible to put down. I finished it in just a few days.

Favorite quote:
“It is important to stop sometimes and just have a drink and gossip with friends, even as corpses start to pile up around you.”

Verdict: Recommended.

5. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

Premise:

The Thursday Murder Club investigates a cold case involving a journalist while chaos unfolds around them. As the cold case turns white hot, Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), while Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim chase down clues with help from old friends and new.

My thoughts:

It took me a little longer to get into this one, but once it picked up, it was classic Thursday Murder Club. There is something comforting about returning to these characters and their world.

Verdict: Recommended.

6. The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Premise:

A teenage girl’s mother, who disappeared 16 years ago, suddenly reappears. But something does not add up.

My thoughts:

This was a random airport purchase and what a surprise. I was not expecting a proper can’t put it down thriller. I finished it so quickly. The twists just kept coming! Since reading it in 2024, I have recommended it to almost everyone I know.

Verdict: Recommended.

7. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Premise:

A story about two friends who build video games together over decades, exploring creativity, ambition, friendship, and love.

My thoughts:

From the book: “I believe the virtual worlds can help people solve problems in the real one.”

For me, it did the exact opposite. The theme of waning friendships as we grow older felt a little too real. Watching characters repeatedly mess things up due to miscommunication was frustrating. Also, Sadie. Why is she like that? Why is nobody properly addressing how problematic Dov is? And what was that ending?

It was entertaining for a while, but eventually more frustrating than fulfilling. Real life already has enough miscommunication.

Verdict: Despite the BookTok hype, I do not recommend this.

8. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

Premise:

The Thursday Murder Club faces personal loss while investigating another complex case.

My thoughts:

This one was more emotional than the previous books, without losing the charm and wit that makes the series so special. The balance between grief, friendship, and humor was beautifully handled.

I loved how the book allowed space for vulnerability while still delivering clever twists and satisfying reveals. It felt mature, thoughtful, and surprisingly moving at times.

Verdict: Recommended.

9. The Body in the Swimming Pool by Shabnam Minwalla

Premise:

Four teenagers stuck at home with chicken pox form the “Chicken Pox Club” after missing out on a summer detective workshop. When their neighbor, poet and professor Sandra Saldanha, mysteriously falls to her death into their apartment pool, they decide to investigate.

My thoughts:

Short, fun, and genuinely engaging. Even though it is YA, I had a great time reading it. The mystery was twisty enough to keep me guessing, and yes, my theory about the murderer was completely wrong. Always love when a book proves me wrong like that.

Verdict: Recommended.

10. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Premise:

An old tea shop owner finds a dead body in her shop and decides to solve the murder herself, while giving life advice along the way.

My thoughts:

I love this cozy mystery genre. In this book, the characters are all conveniently nice to each other. Everything wraps up a little too neatly and the ending felt a bit rushed, but it is a cute, comforting read.

Favorite quote:
“In her experience, it’s best to nod and agree with what people say before doing exactly what you wanted to do from the very beginning.”

Verdict: Recommended.

11 to 13. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series by Holly Jackson

• A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
• Good Girl, Bad Blood
• As Good As Dead

Premise:

A true crime obsessed teenager investigates a closed murder case for a school project, uncovering dangerous secrets.

My thoughts:

I cannot recommend this series enough. Gripping, fast paced, and genuinely clever. Each book raises the stakes in a way that feels natural but intense, and I flew through all of them.

Pip is such a strong main character, and the way the investigations unfold feels smart and layered rather than dramatic for the sake of it. The tension builds beautifully across the series.

The Netflix adaptation, unfortunately, did not do the books justice at all. It felt very meh compared to how sharp and compelling the story is on the page. If you have to choose, definitely read the books.

Verdict: Book series Recommended, Netflix show not recommended at all!

14. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Premise:

Set in post colonial Nigeria, the novel follows Kambili, a teenager growing up in a wealthy but deeply abusive household dominated by her religiously extreme father.

My thoughts:

Not what I usually read, but so beautifully written.

The book explores gender inequality, religious oppression, class differences, and generational conflict. Eugene represents the lingering impact of colonialism, rejecting his own culture and language in favor of rigid colonial Catholic values. His sister Ifeoma, on the other hand, represents intellectual freedom and cultural pride.

The contrast between their households is powerful. This book is heavy, layered, and thought provoking.

Verdict: Recommended.

15. Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

Premise:

A mystery writer on a book tour in Italy finds herself in the middle of a real murder.

My thoughts:

What really worked for me was how fast paced the story was and how fun the narration style felt throughout. I loved that everyone was a suspect at some point, which kept the tension high and made it impossible to fully settle on one theory. I also could not completely guess who the murderer was, which is always a win in my book.

That said, the footnotes, especially on Kindle, got a bit distracting after a while. There were also a few too many twists packed in at one point, and I wish the post reveal ending had been a little longer to properly sit with everything that happened.

Verdict: Recommended.

16. The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Premise:

A Southern gothic thriller centered around a powerful, wealthy family with a dark and complicated legacy that refuses to stay buried.

My thoughts:

This book was pure drama in the best way. The family secrets, shifting timelines, and constant revelations kept me hooked right until the final page. Just when I thought I had figured out where it was going, another twist would land. The atmosphere felt rich and tense, with that classic old money, scandal filled energy running through the entire story.

It is the kind of book where everyone has something to hide and nothing is ever as simple as it first seems. Ending the year with this one felt fitting. Chaotic, twisty, and completely entertaining.

Verdict: Recommended.