THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION PAGE 30 SEPT/OCT/NOV 2026 t h etchoenc no encnt ei oc nt i son j s. cnoj .mc o m BACK SCHOOL Somewhere in this magazine is a SPOT IT & email your answer to info@theconnectionsnj.com Include Name, Town, Phone Subject Line: FAKE AD OR Go to theconnectionsnj.com to play ONLINE or scan QR here FAKE AD erriam Webster defines a thriller as “a work of fiction or drama designed to hold the interest by the use of a high degree of intrigue, adventure, or suspense.” As autumn approaches and the air begins to chill, nothing hits harder than a spooky, skull-rattling thriller. 1. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden READ IF YOU LOVE: Female heroes; Insane plot twists; Fast-paced, easy reads Though an instant hit, The Housemaid absolutely deserved its flowers. It follows the story of a young housemaid, Millie, whose criminal record makes it exceedingly difficult for her to land a job, yet she manages to find work at the expensive home of Nina and Andrew Winchester. The job feels like a blessing at first, but as Millie begins work, she instantly can feel something is wrong. As the drama unfolds, Millie unearths secrets meant to be hidden in the Winchesters’ attic, and McFadden spins an exciting, twisty tale. 2. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson READ IF YOU LOVE: Sarcastic and blunt protagonists; Time pressure; Gradual yet noteworthy character development Holly Jackson, a recently well-known thriller author, delivers quite a nail-biting novel with her July 2025 release, Not Quite Dead Yet. On Halloween night in Woodstock, Vermont, 27-year-old Jet Mason gets attacked in her own house, resulting in an unfortunate brain injury, with the ultimate news that she has only a week left to live at the most. Although there is a possibility that Jet could survive if saying yes to a surgery with a 90% chance of death, she does not want to take such a risk. Instead, Jet decides to solve her own murder. Within one week, Jet is sure that she will be able to figure out who almost killed her on Halloween night. 3. The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson READ IF YOU LOVE: Family dramas; Excellent thriller writing; Well-placed, background romance The Reappearance of Rachel Price is nothing short of Jackson’s best work. Annabelle ‘Bel’ Price, 18, has been forever left in the dark about her mother, Rachel Price, so she agrees to filming a documentary about her mother’s disappearance. However, when Rachel mysteriously reappears, secrets are unveiled that shock Bel and change the course of the documentary. 4. Where There’s Smoke by E.B. Vickers READ IF YOU LOVE: Satisfying endings; Mixed POVs; Fast reads A hidden gem, Where There’s Smoke is the definition of bone-chilling. It revolves around a young woman, Calli Christopher, who just buried her father, but is instantly looped back into drama when a young girl shows up on her property. The narrative switches from Calli’s first-person to others’ third-person points of view, making the entire book exciting with constant changes in narration. The ending culminates beautifully, a characteristic sometimes rare in thrillers, making it the perfect fall read with a cup of tea. 5. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham READ IF YOU LOVE: Layered character backgrounds and relationships; Recurrent themes; Red herrings Psychologist, Chloe Davis, is struck with a reminder of her childhood when teenage girls in town are reported missing and killed. Similar crimes occurred in her hometown when growing up, which leads Chloe down a rabbit hole of investigation with her own father being the one who killed the innocent girls years back. Chloe starts to notice similarities between these current crimes in Baton Rouge and those of the past that ultimately lead her into discussing with reporter, Aaron Doyle, who would help her figure out the mystery behind the sudden repeat of twenty years prior. Charlotte Mitchell has been an enthusiastic reader since elementary school with her favorite genre being thriller/mystery. Besides reading, her hobbies consist of running, theater, writing, and baking. Ameya Ram is also an eager reader whose favorites span genres; from memoirs to thrillers to literary fiction, she’s there for the ride. She also loves writing, tennis, and music. Both girls are sophomores attending Bernards High School. M Leaf Through These Thrillers By Charlotte Mitchell & Ameya Ram SHELF AWARENESS
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