VBT# Don't Look Back - J.J Burgess - March 2026 There’s something about a psychological thriller that creeps under your skin and lingers long after you’ve turned the final page and Don’t Look Back by J.J. Burgess does exactly that. From the very first chapter, I felt my heart racing alongside Lucy. As a new mother, already running on empty and pure instinct, her panic is palpable. When she accidentally hits her elderly neighbour while rushing her sick baby to hospital, that split-second decision to flee feels terrifyingly real. It’s one of those moments where you think, what would I do? And that’s what makes this story so gripping is that it feels so achingly possible. Lucy’s situation quickly spirals, and what begins as a desperate attempt to protect her child turns into something far darker. Her boyfriend Ian initially steps in as her saviour, helping her cover up the accident. But oh, how quickly that dynamic shifts. JJ Burgess does an incredible job of showing how control can c...

Review: The Crash - Freida McFadden - January 2025 Freida McFadden is well known for her fast-paced, twist-filled psychological thrillers, often packed with shocking revelations and morally gray characters. While this book delivers some of those elements, I found it to be a more subdued thriller compared to her usual work. The setup is gripping, but the execution left me wanting more. The story follows Tegan, a heavily pregnant woman fleeing from a past she’d rather leave behind. With nowhere else to go, she sets out to find refuge with her brother, hoping for a fresh start. But fate intervenes when she is caught in a blizzard and stranded in the middle of nowhere. When a seemingly kind couple rescues her, offering her warmth and shelter, she believes she’s been granted a stroke of luck. However, that illusion quickly shatters as she realizes something is very wrong. Her "safe haven" becomes a chilling trap, and her battle for survival—both for herself and her unborn child—be...