Two Psychological Thrillers Perfect for the Long, Cold Nights

by MK French

The nights are still long and definitely cold, which is perfect for reading a book you don't want to put down. Both of these novels kept me turning the pages.

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A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

January 2025; Bantam; 978-0593875582
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); psychological thriller

Hazel and Fox are former serial killers, now settled in London with a baby. Hazel finds this life boring and feels the itch to murder again. Fox is a planner, understands her urges, and likes to keep on top of things. When Hazel kills someone without telling him, she realizes how much she values her family, and that she will do whatever it takes to keep them.

We get both Hazel's and Fox's POV. He's from a rich and privileged background, and Hazel was in foster care. Both hold incredible rage toward rich men who take advantage of others and had taken it upon themselves to kill the ones who otherwise wouldn't even get prosecuted. Hazel's lost as a new mother, and Fox has tried to be the husband he thinks he should be. Over time, both keep secrets from each other. For Hazel, it's the man she killed when he wanted to attack her. Trying to cover it up leads to all kinds of mishaps, further lies, and potential estrangement. Fox has his own lies, and concerns about finances and his parents still trying to pull his strings.

As much as Hazel takes out her frustrations in killing and art, which isn't like the average suburban housewife, I understood her. It's hard to give up what you knew to have a child and raise her on your own. There was no support for Hazel or Fox, but Hazel was expected to give up more to be a traditional housewife. Fox was expected to work and bring home money to keep up their prior extravagant lifestyle. Both of them didn't know how to deal with the changes in their life but didn't communicate well. This worsened as the novel progressed until it all fell apart at the very end. It's an interesting premise and ending, and I actually liked the glimpse we get of the future. This was a fun book that kept me continually reading until I got to the end.

Buy A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage at Amazon

The Stones of Landane by Catherine Cavendish

January 2024; Flame Tree Press; 978-1787588912
ebook, print (240 pages); psychological thriller

Jonathan accompanies his girlfriend Nadia to Landane, and she's drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle there. The more time she spends there, however, the more she begins to change.

We start with Nadia and Jonathan, and both are affected by the stone circle there. Dreams seem only too real, they see ghostly figures and seem to move through the area as if they already know it, especially Nadia. Then we see other couples in two other timelines that are tied to the circle, and they have similar reactions to the stones. It's in one of these story threads that we learn about the forces of dark and light that predate druids and seem to be focused on the stone circle. Once we learn about that, the story takes on a more sinister cast, and the people are caught up in a primordial battle between light and dark that uses the spirits of people as pawns.

I found this story creepy but not quite as horror-filled as some of her other novels. Maybe there's less death and destruction or bloody sacrifice, but there is still the future of the world hanging in the balance. I needed to know how that balance fell at the end, and that kept me drawn into the story. The ending itself felt a bit rushed, especially in comparison to some of her other novels.

Buy The Stones of Landane at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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