Hey, it’s Diego.

A week ago, I read Lie Lie Truth by James Caine.

And it was a very short read.

This got me thinking about other pallet cleansers I’ve read before. Here are my top Short Thriller Books.

First time reading? Sign up here.

_{* This email contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.}

Top Short Thriller Books

The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin

Ainsley and Peter’s marriage is at a breaking point. Ainsley, as the fixer that she is, suggests they should start dating other people in the hopes that it will make her husband realize what he’d be missing if they were to break up. Peter agrees almost immediately. But soon enough, rules are broken and people hurt, mentally and physically.

The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin starts almost as a drama, but quickly unfolds into a popcorn thriller. You won’t read it for its grounded, realistic set-ups, but the book is full of thrills, and at 228 pages, you’ll read it in no time.

Into the Fall by Tamara L. Miller

Sarah’s family goes on a camping trip to the Canadian wilderness, and overnight, her husband disappears. Sarah and her two children, 8 and 5, barely make it back to civilization, where they start piecing together what happened to Matthew and how his past may play a role in his disappearance.

At 250 pages, Into the Fall by Tamara L. Miller delivers the dread a family feels when a loved one disappears.

Unmissing by Minka Kent

Unmissing by Minka Kent tells the story of Lydia, a woman who is abducted while hiking. A decade later, she finally manages to escape and return to her husband, who’s living a seemingly perfect new life.

Also, at 250 pages, this book is not what I expected when I picked it up.

The Perfect Nurse by Daniel Hurst

The Perfect Nurse by Daniel Hurst drops you into the life of Darcy, a nurse caring for Scarlett, the wife of a wealthy man recovering from a brain injury. When Darcy starts noticing oddities in their relationship, she suspects foul play, but without proof, she starts playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

This one sits at 280 pages, and it was quite easy to read through. It has sequels, but it works as a standalone book too.

And the newest addition to the list:

Lie Lie Truth by James Caine (A Review)

Ali’s adoptive parents seem much better than her biological ones. She has a new home, new school, and new brother. She is also pining for a boyfriend now. The problem is that children have started going missing lately, and the town is convinced that Ali’s adoptive father is behind it all. Eleven years later, Ali has changed her name and moved to a different town, but now her adoptive mother is on her deathbed, so she goes back to be with her during her final moments. Then another child goes missing, and everything changes.

Lie Lie Truth by James Caine is a domestic thriller set in a small town.

Caine’s writing is utilitarian and simple. Dialogue flows well and sounds natural. We follow Ali through a dual timeline where we explore her childhood and the present.

At 270 pages, the story moved rather quickly from the get-go. The plot revolves around learning new information as Ali does, and while Ali is a proactive character, she’s given more information than she finds out.

The shortness of the book is a disadvantage here; there is a lot of depth and nuance in the first half of the book that doesn’t pay off towards the second half, as details are glossed over in the interest of ending the story quickly.

There is no romance, no swearing, and no scenes of graphic violence.

So, what about the ending? (No spoilers, obviously)

The main plot points are resolved, albeit as mentioned, without glamour or tension, and glossing over details. There is very little in terms of denouement as well.

Lie Lie Truth is a pretty well-written book that would have benefited from being 50 pages longer. It still held my attention throughout, and I appreciated that sometimes a good thriller can be done with very economical writing.

This Week’s Update

• With The Housemaid’s trailer out last week, the buzz around the book is currently through the roof. To capitalize on it, it’s currently marked down in most places and even free in some countries.

That’s all for this week. See you next time.

— Diego Dunne

P.S. Let me know how I did today by replying to this email.

P.P.S. I would love to hear your recommendations for thrillers you loved. Reply to this email and I’ll add them to my TBR list. Thanks!