I thought I would like thrillers. Was I right!?

The Taste Test #2: Crime/Mystery/Thriller 🔦📚

Hi friend,

As you know, in 2026, I’m doing an experiment I’m calling: The Taste Test. It’s a reading challenge where I’m choosing one genre per month and reading a few recent/popular books from it, in an attempt to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult… and maybe (hopefully!) even find a new author/genre to obsess over!

At the end of each month, I write a recap of my thoughts, including the list of books I read and how I experienced each one. In January, I read 4 memoirs and remembered why I enjoy them. And even though February could have been the “perfect” month for romance, I decided to read crime/mystery/thrillers… and I finished SIX books, in just 30 days!

(I finished the last one on March 2nd, but we went away for two weekends so I lost a few reading days this month… give me a pass for being late!?)

What did I think of this genre, before/after these books? Let’s find out. 🤓

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The Story I Told Myself About Crime/Mystery/Thrillers

I start each of these recaps by sharing what my initial thoughts were on the genre. Any assumptions I had, judgments I made, and any resistance or intrigue I noticed in myself before reading any books. Because this is all an experiment, you could say this is the “hypothesis” of the month! And I was very clear on why I wanted to read this genre next…

The story I told myself about crime/mystery/thrillers is that I would like them. I had some history to back this. The first books in this genre I can remember reading were in high school, when my boyfriend’s mom loaned me her copies of ASHES TO ASHES and DUST TO DUST by Tami Hoag. I might have been 15 years old!? I haven’t read many (or any!?) specific “crime” novels since (where you’re in the mind of the cops/detectives on a case). But I remember reading these two quickly and liking them at a young age.

I didn’t read many books in this genre after that—at least not that come to mind. Then a couple years ago, I borrowed YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang from the library and DEVOURED it in a few days. That was the first time I can remember thinking: wow, I like psychological thrillers (where you’re in the mind of someone who might be a bit unreliable/unstable, and which use paranoia, obsession, manipulation, etc. to carry the plot). But I didn’t look for more, because my follow-up thought was: they also stress me out.

Then last summer, I found what I will call: funny mysteries. Specifically, the VERA WONG books (2) + THE AUNTIES series (3) by Jesse Q. Sutanto. I listened to all 5 while I was packing and cleaning and moving out of The Lighthouse, and loved them. I also devoured TILT by my friend Emma Pattee last year (a fast-paced thriller), along with WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy (a slower mystery/thriller by comparison). Out of 27 books, I was surprised to discover that the charts in my 2025 Reading Wrap-Up on Storygraph said mystery was one of the genres I “spent the most time with!”

So going into The Taste Test, the story I told myself is that I would probably like reading more of them. I enjoy the tactics used to keep stories moving along in mysteries/thrillers. I like a good page-turner! But it needs to be done well—meaning, it can’t be too formulaic or obvious. If I can see what’s coming next, I get bored and want to DNF/quit a book. And it can’t have much violence either. Consuming violence scrambles my insides. (Reading THE NAMES by Florence Knapp was about as far as I could push my limit.)

I wasn’t sure if I would like crime/detective books, because I don’t have much experience reading them. But I knew I would like psychological thrillers, even though they would probably stress me out. And I knew I would enjoy reading more “light” mysteries, as fun palette cleansers.

Was I right!?

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The Reading Experience

In last month’s recap, I shared a list of what I was going to read in February. My plan was to read 3 adult novels + 1 middle grade book, and that already felt like a stretch. But somehow, I ended up reading 5 adult novels and my middle grade choice. SIX books!? This probably answers the question of whether I liked this genre or not, lol.

As you read my recaps, remember I’m trying not to write these as reviews (though I’m sure a few notes will slip in). I want them to reflect my personal experience of each book. Why I chose it. How it felt to read. What pulled me in, or where I got lost. And if I can find any patterns of thoughts/feelings. Anything that will help me figure out what I like/don’t like!

Here’s what I learned about myself, while reading these books:

1. BEAUTIFUL UGLY by Alice Feeney - I chose this one because it was nominated for the Goodreads Readers’ Fave Mystery & Thriller in 2025, and I saw it was about a writer and it was set in Scotland. Seemed like it could be the recipe for a “Cait” book! But I also wondered if it would be too procedural for me. Too formulaic, obvious, or repetitive. I would say that this is an assumption/judgment I’ve made about books in this genre, in general. That the reason the most “popular” authors can push out 1-2 new books/year is probably because they are following a formula. There’s nothing wrong with this. I also know that some people really enjoy when the mystery is a bit obvious! It’s calmer; easier on the nervous system. But as I said above, the way my brain works, if I can see what’s coming next, I’m already bored and want to quit. (This is also why I don’t read much romance. I just get bored!) I’m happy to say that this book did not bore me for a second. It was more quiet intrigue, less intense thriller. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. And it kept me guessing, until the end! The only thing I didn’t like was the one mention of child sexual abuse. It was just a few sentences of the whole book, but that was enough to almost make me quit reading. (It also didn’t feel very relevant to the story. Like, that detail wasn’t essential. It could’ve been swapped for something else!) I already knew I wouldn’t want to read stories that include any sexual abuse, let alone involving a child. The best thing I learned after reading this book is that there’s a “content warnings” section for every book on Storygraph. In the future, I’ll be checking these before reading more in this genre!

2. WHAT WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS by Heather Darwent - This book wasn’t on my original list for the month, but when Heather offered to send me a copy, I happily said yes! And that was the correct answer, friend! Because this book SERVED. It is a psychological thriller, and delivered everything you could want in one. And even though I didn’t really like any of the characters (which is exactly right for this subgenre), the story was intoxicating and I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen to everyone. I had a theory about one character, which I ended up being right about—but Heather’s writing was so good, I didn’t get my answer until the very last chapter! So I kept turning the pages, faster and faster each day. I got to the end knowing: I do really enjoy pyschological thrillers… but they ALSO stress me out! To the point that I had the most f*cked up dreams for THE WHOLE WEEK I WAS READING THIS BOOK. Dreams that included people I haven’t thought about in almost 20 years. People who reminded me of Tabitha, and who I am glad to not have any contact with today. If this were a book review, I would tell you that I finished it and messaged Heather to say: THAT WAS YOUR DEBUT!?!?!?! because it was so so so well done. And, I can’t read another book like that for a little while, haha.

3. JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Liann Zhang - I spotted this on the Canada Reads’ 2026 Longlist and didn’t know what to expect. Was it going to be a serious/scary thriller? Or something more lighthearted? The answer was: a mix of both. I enjoyed the first half, which felt somewhat realistic and included a good mix of humour (it’s a satire) and suspense. But the second-half felt… I still don’t know how to describe it. Like it took a hard turn and went over-the-top. And it kind of lost me there. Rather than comment on the book or writing itself (which was still good! and I finished it!), I’ve been reflecting on how I felt while reading the book—thinking about where it lost me, which parts I judged, etc. The answer is actually really simple: I find the topic of social media boring. And the whole book is a satire of influencer life/culture. So that’s probably why I had a hard time staying interested, and even found myself speeding up the audiobook—because I wanted to move on from the topic.

4. MY HUSBAND’S WIFE by Alice Feeney - After enjoying BEAUTIFUL UGLY, I did a little research on what else this author has published. I listened to a few samples of other audiobooks, and LOVED hearing Bel Powley’s voice read the first few minutes of this one. I loved it so much, I felt EXCITED to listen. So I got it! And listened! And I was engaged, the whole way through! Until the last few chapters, when the entire plot was finally explained… in a monologue. It felt like such a massive letdown, after liking the rest of the book. And I judged it, friend. The words that came to mind re: the ending were lazy and rushed. The lesson I’m trying to take from this is: I really value the work that goes into writing a story that slowly pieces a puzzle together. It takes WORK to write a good mystery/thriller. And that work takes TIME and THOUGHT! So maybe I don’t want to read mysteries by authors who can pump out 1-2/year. Maybe I’d rather read mysteries by someone who writes ONE GREAT BOOK every few years. That seems to be what the next author does…

5. THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore - This was the winner of the Readers’ Fave Mystery & Thriller in 2024. I remember everyone sharing pictures and reviews of it online, and now I understand why. This book was exceptional, friend. I correctly guessed what happened to one kid about halfway through, but I couldn’t have guessed what happened to the other. It was a beautiful book… that I almost didn’t finish. There was something about the writing that really threw me off, at first. I’m talking about the nitty gritty details. Like: the use of extra adjectives and punctuation used constantly to add more details. There were sometimes 4, 5, 6 commas in a single sentence. And I feel like a slow reader as it is, but there was something about these sentence structures that really slowed me down. Like my mind was trying to take in every detail, but also stay on track with the story, and it just couldn’t. After 40-45 pages, I felt like I’d never get to the end. (And the paperback is 435 pages, so I felt like I was holding an impossible challenge in my hands!) I almost quit there. But I told a friend I was going to read the first 100 pages, then decide if I wanted to keep going or quit—and I’m so glad I pushed through. Not only did the writing get easier to read¹ but the story is just SO GOOD. And it is beautifully pieced together. This is a perfect thriller that I would recommend to anyone. And it was a good reminder that sometimes writing can feel clunky in my head, but it’s worth trying to catch on…

6. Middle Grade Option: MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller - And last but certainly not least, this middle grade book was a sweet little treat enjoyed in-between some of these more intense reads! I have no notes! It was filled with memorable characters, and important reminders of what the immigrant experience can be for kids/families—especially in bigger cities in the US. If you’ve read any other Newbery books, you will understand why it was nominated. The only note I would make for myself is that the age range was 7-11, which is actually a bit young for middle grade—and younger than the other kids’ books I typically like to read. I didn’t do my homework on that, and will make sure I check for ages in the future. I wanted to support Chanel Miller anyway, and still enjoyed it! But I find books in that age range too easy to read, whereas some middle grade books could easily be written for teens/adults—and those are the ones that stay with me.

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The book(s) I didn’t finish (DNF):

If you’re a paid subscriber, you might remember that I found a copy of THE HOUSEMAID in the little free library in our village? I read ~50 pages and hated it. The writing felt… immature? Maybe that is just a reflection of the main character! But I couldn’t get into it. I know SO MANY PEOPLE loved this book (it has 3.5 million ratings on Goodreads!), and love all her books! Maybe I’ll try one that’s not in the HOUSEMAID series, to see if the characters/writing are more my style!? But something tells me this author’s work just isn’t for me, and that’s ok too.

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The Aftertaste

The main reason I’m doing this challenge is to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult. The story I told myself about crime/mystery/thrillers is that I would like them—and I was right, friend. I enjoyed all of these books, for different reasons. And I’m researching a lot of books for this challenge, and I finished this month with another 25+ on a possible TBR list for the future, lol. So it’s safe to say, I like this genre!

But my TBR list is being compiled with two different kinds of books: ones I feel excited to read/confident I could like, and ones I still have questions about. And I think the fact that I still have so many questions about this genre tells me… it’s one I might start to get really into!

Here’s what I’ve learned about my reading taste:

• I really like psychological thrillers. And they take my mind to wild places! So I should probably only read a few per year, lol.

• I enjoy a slower mystery/thriller, filled with more intrigue than intense interactions.

• I value the time/thought/work that goes into writing a story that slowly pieces a puzzle together.

• I love character development.

• If books are too formulaic or obvious, I will quit/DNF it.

• I probably don’t want to read books written by authors who pump out more than one per year. But I’m willing to continue testing this theory.

• I do not like reading about violence, period. But especially any kind of violence towards kids. (Check the content warnings!)

• I didn’t end up reading any this month, but I know I like funny mysteries! And have more on my list!

• And this is niche, but I find the topic of social media boring now. Probably best for me to skip books where that’s the focus!

And here are some of the questions I still have:

• What are the differences between crime novels, mysteries, and thrillers? I grouped them together, for this challenge… and I know there’s a lot of crossover… but I know they are all different, too! And have subgenres underneath them! I’d love to do more research, and be able to speak about this confidentally and give recos for each one.

• I still don’t feel I’ve read many crime novels. Would I like a crime series? Something like what LJ Ross writes? Or will I find them too formulaic?

• Might I like any books written by the authors who publish often and seem to always become global bestsellers!? And if not, WHY!?!?!

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In March, I’m Exploring: Historical Fiction

This post is already close to 3,000 words, so if you’re still reading, HI! In March, I’ve decided to pick a genre I feel neutral about: historical fiction. I’ve read some books in this genre before, but it’s not one I’ve necessarily been drawn to—and that feels true for where I’m at today!? I researched a lot of options, and can’t say I felt overly excited about many of them. I’m not sure why yet!? But we’ll find out, soon!

For this genre, I tried to choose books that span the globe, with stories set in the US, Vietnam, England, and Australia. I’m going to attempt to read:

1. THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah - Winner of the Readers’ Fave Historical Fiction in 2024, and one I’ve seen many of my book friends share

2. BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall - Nominated for Readers’ Fave Historical Fiction in 2025, and a Reese’s Book Club Pick

3. THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride - Nominated for Readers’ Fave in 2023, and winner of the Kirkus Prize

4. THE FAR-FLUNG LIFE by M. L. Stedman - Brand new! Out today! I was sent a free copy by the publisher and am excited to dig in. (Her last book was the winner of Readers’ Fave back in 2012.)

5. Middle Grade Option: THE LUMINOUS LIFE OF LUCY LANDRY by Anna Rose Johnson

If I have time, there are a few more books on my possible TBR list. I’d say the one that intrigues me most is THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostwick! MEET THE NEWMANS by Jennifer Niven sounds funny. I’ve also heard good things about JUNIE by Erin Crosby Eckstine.

Have you read any of the books I finished last month? Or any of the historical fiction choices on this month’s list?

I’d love to hear your (spoiler-free) thoughts!

xx Cait

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1. I think it was all part of how she developed the characters… so once you knew them, she didn’t need to include the same kind of details? In its place, she then used lots of great dialogue instead!