“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
Here at What We Reading, we’ve been lucky enough to dive into some exceptional books this year. Whether it’s been gripping psychological thrillers filled with shocking twists and turns, eerie tales unfolding aboard luxury cruise liners in space, or intriguing whodunit mysteries taking place in the heart of Paris, we wanted to take a final look back at 2023 and share our top five reads of the year!
5. The Paris Apartment – Lucy Foley
We’re going back to the start of the year for our first entry in our five favourite books from 2023. We became big fans of Lucy Foley’s books in 2022, and it’s safe to say The Paris Apartment is a blend of all the things readers love about her previous thrillers, while also branching out into new territories for something that feels new and unique.
The Paris Apartment follows Jess, a down-on-her-luck bartender who aims to kickstart a new life by visiting her brother, Ben, in his luxurious apartment in the heart of Paris. However, upon arriving, Ben is nowhere to be found, and the other residents in the building are less than welcoming. Readers follow Jess as she delves deeper into her brother’s disappearance, unravelling the sinister web of secrets and lies nestled inside the walls of this stunning backdrop.
Everything from the decadent Parisian setting to how Foley builds her characters and unveils twists and turns makes The Paris Apartment such a fun read. They never feel unguessable, but more than a few had us gasping at how well she had hidden them in plain sight. Overall, The Paris Apartment features a compelling protagonist, a whole host of dark twists and turns, Foley’s writing at its peak, and provides one of the best escapist thriller experiences.
Check Out Our The Paris Apartment Book Review
4. Dead Silence – S.A. Barnes
S.A. Barnes provided our favourite Sci-Fi read of the year when we picked up Dead Silence in October. A compelling blend of science fiction and horror, Dead Silence is a cross between Alien and Titanic, whose biggest pros mainly come from its incredibly imaginative premise.
The book follows Claire Kovalik and her small repair crew. When they pick up a strange distress call and follow it, they stumble upon the Aurora: a luxury space cruiser that had disappeared without a trace twenty years ago. Looking to bag a quick score and eager to see what caused the Aurora’s disappearance, Claire and the crew board the ship. But, it soon becomes clear something gruesome happened on board. Before long, this expedition descends into a hellish battle for their sanity and survival.
As mentioned, what makes Dead Silence one of our favourite reads of the year is its premise; we love the claustrophobia and suspenseful feelings that come with stories like this, and hosting the narrative against the backdrop of a ghost ship in space is the icing on the cake. There were a few things that held the book back from being an absolute slam dunk, namely the unnecessary romance and underwhelming final acts. Nevertheless, Dead Silence is a dark and creepy space adventure that succeeds in capitalizing on the potential of its premise.
Check Out Our Dead Silence Book Review
3. The Burning Girls – C.J. Tudor
In March, C.J. Tudor transported us to the picturesque English countryside with a deliciously dark mystery-thriller, The Burning Girls. It was a close call between The Burning Girls and The Chalk Man to determine our favourite C.J. Tudor book of the year, but we’ve chosen the former for its brilliant characters and shocking revelations.
The story follows Reverend Jack Brooks and her daughter Flo, who, after a tragic accident in their home city of Bristol, aim to restart their lives in the small village of Chapel Croft. However, from the outset, strange occurrences suggest that this new parish is anything but idyllic. Alongside receiving an exorcism kit as a welcoming gift, Jack’s predecessor was recently found hanged in his church, and a long list of tragedies and traditions points to the village being the home to plenty of ghosts that refuse to be laid to rest.
Jack, being witty, brave, and a caring mother, embarks on investigations into the dark secrets hiding around Chapel Croft, making The Burning Girls one of the most suspenseful stories we’ve read this year. Tudor’s writing, once again, excels at delivering a pulsating read, and the numerous twists and turns that caught us by surprise made the book such a thrilling ride to sink our teeth into.
Check Out Our The Burning Girls Book Review
2. The Chain – Adrian McKinty
Adrian McKinty delivered one of the most suspenseful reads of the year with his thriller, The Chain. The book epitomizes the ‘heart-pumping’ experience, maximizing its high-stakes set-up with competent characters who more than prove their worth throughout the story.
The Chain kicks off when protagonist Rachel drops her daughter, Kylie, at the bus stop one morning, only to receive a phone call from a woman claiming to have kidnapped Kylie and placed her in ‘The Chain.’ To secure Kylie’s safety, Rachel must now kidnap another child and ensure their parents do the same, creating an unending chain of blackmail and kidnappings.
The Chain’s premise is one of the most hellish and relatable imaginable, and McKinty capitalizes on it with some of the most suspenseful and tension-packed scenes we’ve read this year. The thrilling premise, combined with capable and likeable characters and fast-paced storytelling, makes the book one of the most uniquely memorable of the year.
Check Out Our The Chain Book Review
1. The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
In June, we delved into one of the most hyped and acclaimed books of the past few years, The Silent Patient. Alex Michaelides’ debut novel promised an intense psychological thriller set in the world of criminology and mystery, and, boy, it certainly delivered.
The Silent Patient unfolds the story of Alicia Berenson, a woman who, on the surface, appears to have everything in life. One day, her husband returns home from work, and she shoots him five times, refusing to utter a single word for years afterwards. Readers accompany Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist consumed by an obsession to uncover the truth behind Alicia’s heinous and violent act, as well as the reasons for her prolonged silence.
From the gripping premise and well-paced storytelling to Michaelides’ writing and the shocking twists, turns, and developments that unfold during Theo’s investigations into Alicia’s life, The Silent Patient stands out as one of the most memorably gripping reads. Even now, its final twist remains the best we’ve encountered all year. All these elements combine to make the book our favourite from what we’ve read in 2023.
Check Out Our The Silent Patient Book Review
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
