Recs if you like With a Vengeance...

no matter what happens, there will be books with neon-text-on-a-dark-background covers and they will be thrillers.

stuck on an island, snowed in, on a boat, aboard a moving train... this list is crime fiction -mostly murder mysteries- in which the characters are stuck in an isolated location and cut off from the outside.

disclaimer: i haven't read all of these so lmk if a book doesn't fit, and feel free to leave suggestions in the comments!

This includes book that have either mystery or thrillers as a primary or secondary genre. If you have recommendations to add please comment and I'll happily add them 💕

... You're trapped here with me! The format: A group of people (could be strangers, or long-lost friends) are gathered or trapped in an isolated place together. Maybe it's a remote island. Maybe a cozy cabin during a blizzard. Someone is killed. The killer is obviously among them, but who?! Submissions welcome because this is my favourite mystery sub-genre at the moment, and I can't wait to discover more!

what gab smolders read in 2025 as per her book talk video! horror + in tier order from most to least liked by her:

★ S TIER: from "night shoot" to "old country"

★ A TIER: from "what stalks the deep" to "listen to your sister"

★ B TIER: from "the long walk" to "the gathering"

★ C TIER: from "banquet for the damned" to "model home"

★ D TIER: from "3 streets" to "my darling dreadful thing"

★ F TIER: from "basilisk" to "survivor song"

All the books chosen by Booksandlala for the Literally Dead Book club.

Books by Riley Sager. Duh.

Everyone is hiding something, everyone has secrets, and I trust absolutely no one. 👀