Tag: Suspense Thriller

Get Rich Quick? Steven Bernstein’s Sharp Satire on Financial Illusions

‘GRQ’ is the exciting new novel by Steven Bernstein. Photo: Partners in Crime Book Tours, used with permission.

Part of the Partners in Crime Tours Virtual Book Tours

Book Review: GRQ (Get Rich Quick) by Steven Bernstein

Motto:

Never trust someone who tells you he’s not a thief or a con artist.

Overview

GRQ (Get Rich Quick) follows Marlon, a man scrambling to save his family from financial collapse. Reeling from personal tragedy and facing eviction, he’s enticed by a mysterious financial advisor who promises a guaranteed path to wealth. As Marlon’s high-stakes gambles intensify, the line between salvation and destruction begins to blur. The story unfolds over a single, tension-filled day as Marlon confronts not only his financial ruin but also the dark secrets haunting his family.

Photo: PICT, used with permission

Review

Bernstein opens the novel with an unnamed narrator, a swaggering crypto investor who claims, “You should give me a call if you want to get rich.” Though he insists he merely tells Marlon’s story, he also claims he changed Marlon’s life. His unreliability seeps through immediately.

When Marlon nears eviction, this slick “advisor” offers him a surefire financial escape. With nowhere to turn, Marlon takes the bait, though every shortcut in Bernstein’s world carries a hidden cost.

The brief chapters alternate between Marlon’s unraveling day and the narrator’s self-aggrandizing commentary. Through this structure, Bernstein builds claustrophobia, tension, and a constant sense of impending doom. Marlon’s excuses to the mortgage company and his lies to his wife, Viola, grow increasingly frantic. A fractured Los Angeles mirrors the fractures within his family, amplifying the emotional stakes.

This short but tense novel centers around Marlon, a man pushed to the edge by financial desperation and personal grief. As his high-risk gambles escalate, the reader is pulled into his frantic attempts to outrun debt collectors and the ghosts of his past. He is deeply flawed yet painfully sympathetic and the novel’s emotional stakes feel as real as its financial ones.

Gritty, morally ambiguous, and uncomfortably plausible, GRQ by Steven Bernstein is a sharp cautionary tale about the seductive danger of easy money and the personal reckonings it can never truly erase. Fans of satire, dark humor, and psychological tension will find much to savor.

“Me, the maker of dreams. But some things I am not. I am not a charity. I am not a mental health professional. I am not a marriage counselor. I am not a lender of money.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Steven Bernstein, ASC, DGA, WGA, is an award-winning feature film director and screenwriter known for visually striking films spanning four decades. His work on the Academy Award–winning Monster and Like Water for Chocolate has earned him global acclaim, along with honors such as the American Film Institute Award, the Sloan Award, and the Cannes Golden Lion. He has contributed to over 50 feature films and worked with major talents including John Malkovich, Samantha Morton, and Helen Hunt. His podcast, Filmmakerandfans, explores the creative process in filmmaking and reaches millions of listeners.

Photo: PICT, used with permission

Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours is hosting a giveaway for a $25 Amazon card. Enter for a chance to win. Void where prohibited.

Photo: PICT, used with permission

*Thank you to Partners in Crime Tours and the author for my gifted copy for review as part of the tour. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Lying in Wait Delivers a Dark, Gripping Mystery

Lying in Wait is a girls’ night gone wrong thriller that keeps you guessing. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.

🎬 Lying In Wait (2025) — Movie Review

Synopsis:
During a girls’ night out, Skyler goes missing and Rachel and Daniela desperately search for her. All clues point to a kidnapping, but Rachel knows there’s more to the case and everyone has a secret. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)

Lying in Wait is available to rent or own on Amazon Prime Video.

Written by: Tomas Decurgez & Savanah Joeckel
Directed by: Tomas Decurgez
Starring: Savanah Joeckel, Tony Garza, and Tomas CL
Genre: Thriller

Review

Lying in Wait delivers a tense, twist-filled thriller that keeps you guessing until the final moments. The film opens with a chilling scene: a couple enjoying a quiet day outdoors when their dog uncovers a buried body with only a fly-infested hand visible. From there, the focus shifts to Skyler and Rachel, who are picking up Daniela for what’s supposed to be a carefree girls’ night out.

That night quickly unravels into a nightmare when Skyler vanishes without a trace. Her friends Rachel and Daniela, portrayed with raw urgency and emotional depth, refuse to sit back as the police chase dead ends.

As Rachel digs deeper, the film peels back layers of deceit and every character hides something, and no one is who they seem. Director Tomas Decurgez balances moody cinematography with tight pacing, creating an atmosphere where even silence feels dangerous. The urban nightlife scenes, shot with grainy realism, amplify the sense of dread.

While some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, the suspense never lets up. The psychological tension drives the story, exploring friendship, guilt, and secrets that resurface when trust is broken. Told through a non-linear narrative, flashbacks gradually reveal the truth behind Skyler’s disappearance.

By the time the mystery unravels, Lying in Wait proves to be more than a simple kidnapping story; it’s a haunting exploration of betrayal and the dark corners of the human heart.

⭐ Rating: 4/5 — A gripping and atmospheric thriller worth watching.

*Thank you to One Tree Entertainment for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Lying in Wait still. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.

Stephen King’s Dystopian Classic ‘The Running Man’ Gets a Bold New Adaptation in 2025

The new book to movie adaptation starring Glen Powell hits theaters on November 7. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Stephen King’s “The Running Man” Returns — and Hits the Big Screen

Originally published under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman in 1982, The Running Man later appeared as part of The Bachman Books collection in 1985. Now, this dark, dystopian thriller is making its way to the big screen, with Paramount’s new adaptation set to premiere on November 7, 2025.

A Deadly Game of Survival

In the world of The Running Man, survival is the only goal.

Ben Richards has lost everything—his job, his savings, and nearly his hope. With a sick daughter in need of urgent medical care, he takes a desperate gamble and signs up for the nation’s most popular (and brutal) reality show: The Running Man, where contestants are hunted for sport.

If Ben can stay alive for thirty days, he’ll win a billion dollars. The catch? No one has ever survived more than eight days. Pursued by a lethal strike force trained to kill, Richards must navigate a world where every step could be his last.

It’s a chilling story about desperation, power, and the lengths one man will go to save his family.

The Film Adaptation

The Running Man (2025)
A man joins a game show where contestants can run anywhere in the world—while professional “hunters” track them down.

  • Director: Edgar Wright
  • Writers: Michael Bacall, Stephen King, Edgar Wright
  • Stars: Glen Powell, Emilia Jones, Josh Brolin
  • Genre: Dystopian Sci-Fi, Dark Comedy, Survival, Action Adventure
  • Running Time: 140 minutes

With Wright’s trademark style and a powerhouse cast, this adaptation promises to bring King’s high-stakes vision to thrilling, satirical life.

About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent works include Never Flinch, You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (co-written with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges Trilogy: Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch.

King is the recipient of numerous honors, including:

  • 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award
  • 2014 National Medal of Arts
  • 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Dan Brown Returns: A New Thriller That Blends Science, Myth, and Mystery

‘The Secret of Secrets’ is the new Robert Langdon novel by Dan Brown. Photo: Barnes & Noble

The Enduring Appeal of Dan Brown

Dan Brown has captivated readers worldwide with his fast-paced thrillers that blend history, art, religion, and science into gripping mysteries. Best known for The Da Vinci Code, Brown’s novels often follow Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he unravels ancient secrets hidden in modern settings. His works combine real-world landmarks, historical puzzles, and high-stakes suspense that keep readers turning pages late into the night.

Over the years, Brown’s books have sparked debate, inspired travel to iconic sites, and drawn in both casual and dedicated readers—proving his enduring talent for making history feel urgent and thrilling.

The Secret of Secrets: A New Robert Langdon Novel

The world’s most celebrated thriller writer and author of The Da Vinci Code returns with his most stunning novel yet—a propulsive, twisty, thought-provoking masterpiece that will entertain readers as only Dan Brown can do. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon—a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a relationship. Katherine is on the verge of publishing an explosive book that contains startling discoveries about the nature of human consciousness and threatens to disrupt centuries of established belief.

But a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, and Katherine suddenly disappears along with her manuscript. Langdon finds himself targeted by a powerful organization and hunted by a chilling assailant sprung from Prague’s most ancient mythology.

As the plot expands into London and New York, Langdon desperately searches for Katherine and for answers. In a thrilling race through the dual worlds of futuristic science and mystical lore, he uncovers a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind.

About the Author

Dan Brown is the author of eight #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has become one of the bestselling books of all time, as well as Origin, Inferno, The Lost Symbol, and Angels & Demons. His thrillers have captivated readers worldwide and been the subject of intellectual debate and speculation.

He is also the author of the bestselling children’s book Wild Symphony. Brown’s novels are published in 56 languages internationally, with over 250 million copies in print.

‘The Long Walk’ Finally Hits the Big Screen This September

The Long Walk is set for a September 12 release. Photo: IMDb.

Stephen King’s The Long Walk Marches to the Big Screen

The long wait is finally over – Stephen King’s dystopian horror classic, The Long Walk, is making its way to theaters. The highly anticipated adaptation is co-produced and directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games, I Am Legend) from a screenplay by JT Mollner. The cast includes Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, and Mark Hamill. The film will be released in theaters on September 12, 2025.

From Page to Screen

Originally published in 1979 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk takes readers into an alternate America ruled by a totalitarian regime. Although not the first of King’s novels to be published, it was the first novel he ever wrote—started in 1966–67 during his freshman year at the University of Maine, nearly a decade before Carrie (1974) launched his career. (Wikipedia, 2025)

The Premise

At the heart of the story lies the annual competition known only as The Long Walk. One hundred teenage boys are chosen to compete in a brutal test of endurance:

  • Walk at a minimum pace of four miles per hour.
  • No stopping. No resting. No outside help.
  • Fall below the limit, and you get a warning.
  • Three warnings—and you’re out, permanently.

The “winner” earns The Prize—anything he desires for the rest of his life. But the catch? There’s no finish line. The contest continues until only one walker remains alive. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

Meet Ray Garraty

The story centers on sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty, a reluctant competitor who enters the Long Walk against his mother’s wishes. As the march drags on, Garraty faces not only the physical strain of endless miles but also the psychological toll of watching ninety-nine others fall one by one.

Why This Adaptation Matters

The Long Walk is considered one of King’s most haunting works—a chilling blend of horror, dystopia, and psychological thriller. Its focus on endurance, survival, and the cost of authoritarian control makes it a story that resonates deeply today. Fans have been waiting decades for a faithful adaptation, and with Francis Lawrence at the helm, expectations are high.

Mark your calendars: September 12, 2025. The Long Walk begins.

Photo: Barnes & Noble

Exploring Solitude: A Deep Dive into ‘The Alone Time’

‘The Alone Time’ is Elle Marr’s latest psychological thriller. Photo: Amazon

“The Alone Time” – When Fiona and Violet Seng were just children, their family’s Cessna crash-landed in the Washington wilderness during a family vacation. It claimed the lives of their parents and for twelve weeks, the girls fended for themselves before being rescued. (Amazon, 2024)

Twenty-five years later, they’re still trying to move on from the trauma. Fiona uses their experience to create controversial works of art. Violet has battled addiction and failed relationships to finally progress toward normalcy as a writer. The estranged sisters never speak about what they call their Alone Time in the wild. They wouldn’t dare—until they become the subject of a documentary that renews public fascination with the “girl survivors” and questions their version of the events.

Now a strange woman claims to know the truth surrounding the crash and Fiona and Violet must work together to face the horrifying truth of what happened out there and what they learned about their parents and themselves before any other secrets emerge from the woods. Seeking the truth, Fiona and Violet go back to the scene of the crash to face the painful truth once and for all.

Review:
Elle Marr’s “The Alone Time” explores the psychological complexities of isolation and fear, crafting a gripping narrative that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The narration switches between the points of view of Fiona, Henry, Janet, and Violet to give readers deep insight into the character’s mindset; though the non-linear narrative gets confusing at times. At best, it reminds us of how unreliable our childhood memories tend to be. 

Marr’s skillful prose weaves a chilling atmosphere, drawing readers into Fiona and Violet’s increasingly fragile mental state as they confront both external threats and their own inner demons. The narrative is rich with suspense, as layers of mystery unfold with each page turned, leaving a trail of unanswered questions that compel the reader to keep reading. The language is rich and descriptive: “Branches extend toward us as if welcoming us into their lush grave..”

The character development is nuanced and makes the characters relatable, particularly Violet’s journey from vulnerability to strength as she fights to reclaim her sense of security. With themes of survival, family, and resilience, the author paints a vivid portrait of women pushed to their limits and beyond. The numerous plot-twists make this a first rate thriller.

Overall, “The Alone Time” is a masterful thriller that combines atmospheric tension with profound emotional depth, making it a compelling read for fans of psychological suspense. Marr proves herself a formidable storyteller with this gripping tale of fear and redemption in the wilderness. It is recommended for readers who enjoy suspense thrillers with complex characters.

“After a certain level of trauma is reached, the only choice we have is to either feel the pain in all its depth and depravity or choose numbness-ice to assuage the heat.”

*The author received a copy of this book through Amazon First Reads. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.