Why the (Bloody) Stars?
Transparency first: I’ve never loved the traditional star-rating system. But readers expect it, so you’ll see my blood-stained stars—fitting for a site devoted to thrillers and murder mysteries. Just know they might vanish someday if a better metric strikes my fancy.
How the Ratings Work
- ★★★ (3 stars) – The lowest positive score you’ll find here. I liked the book enough to feature it and think most thriller fans will, too.
- ★★★★ (4 stars) – A cut above. Strong writing, clever twists, and a ride I’d recommend without hesitation.
- ★★★★★ (5 stars) – Rare air. These novels blow me away and earn a permanent spot on my “all-time favorites” shelf.
You’ll notice plenty of threes and fours, but never ones or twos. If a book doesn’t click for me, I simply move on—life’s too short and tastes vary wildly.
A Note for Authors
I don’t accept review requests. Every title I cover is something I bought on Amazon, grabbed through Kindle Unlimited, or discovered on NetGalley. Between running Thrilling Reads, hosting the Meet the Thriller Author podcast, and writing my own novels, time is tight. If you send an unsolicited pitch, chances are I won’t be able to reply. No hard feelings—I’m a one-person show and need to guard my writing hours. Fellow authors, I know you get it.
