The author said "let's make Valentine's Day absolutely unhinged" and honestly? She delivered.
Chloe just wanted to find a date—instead she got kidnapped by someone from her speed dating event. Talk about a bad Bumble alternative.

The setup is perfection: a handful of suspects from one night, flashbacks that reveal who's actually deranged, and Chloe is fighting for her life while we play detective. I had my theories. I was wrong. Multiple times.

This novella comes with content warnings for a reason. Graphic violence, captivity, torture, sexual assault.

Fast-paced, brutal, and shockingly hard to put down. I blazed through it and immediately questioned every person I've ever met at a social event.
10/10 would recommend for ruining the most romantic day of the year.

🖤 Crazy Little Thing Called Love;

My Review! 🖤





(Written by Kristin Mulligan)


Blurb;

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a twisted Valentine’s Day novella brimming with obsession, terror, and a deadly case of unrequited love.

Chloe never expected to find true love at a speed dating event, but with Valentine’s Day just a week away, why not give it a shot? Maybe she’ll find Mr. Right just in time for a romantic spark.

The evening is filled with awkward small talk, forced laughter, and flirty smiles...but hidden among the hopeful faces is someone who has been waiting for the perfect moment to confess their undying love for Chloe.

When Chloe vanishes later that night and wakes in an unfamiliar room, she has little time to figure out who took her, and even less of a chance to escape before the situation turns deadly.

Because they say love makes people do crazy things…and Chloe is determined to get out before it kills her.



My Review;

Wow! - I literally sped through reading this book in just a day!👌 = It drew me in from the very beginning, & with it's 'easy-to-read' style it's written in, made for an easy read. I don't need to go over the plot itself, as the blurb above tells the full story, & I don't want to give away any spoilers, - but this book was SUCH a compelling read, from beginning to end! I liked the style where Chloe would be in the 'now', where she is held prisoner in the darkness, to the 'before'; her recollection of her speed dating night, & ultimately what had led up to her being abducted, & by whom. With 15 possible guys, - it certainly kept me guessing as to which guy was responsible for abducting her, & holding her in a prison of darkness, against her will. - & NOPE! - I never would have guessed‼️

Based on a rating of 1-10, where 10 is the highest, I would give this book a rating of 9. = It drew me in, kept me hooked throughout, & was a very enjoyable, fast-paced, read. I would deffo highly recommend‼️👌👌👌







★ This book will be available to purchase & download from

⭐️ 6th January, 2026! ⭐️ ★

This book was a fast-paced, gripping thriller that pulls you in and does not let go. It’s twisty, and it’s oh so enjoyable as this story unfolds the suspense becomes nail-biting. A great psychological thriller with a great ending!

They were some OUTSTANDING twists that I couldn’t see coming and at least one OMG moment which caught me by surprise. I absolutely LOVED this book!

When things start to be revealed I was left with my mouth hanging open. Loved this fast paced amazing thriller. Just could not put it down I absolutely recommend it to everyone. A resounding 5-stars!!

I really enjoyed this novella! It was on the shorter end but it was jam packed full of thrills! I had to keep guessing who the kidnapper possibly could've been and just when I thought I had it, I was wrong!!

eARC
This was unhinged in the best way. I loved the chapter headings here - they added so much fun and seriousness to the plot, and I liked how they worked around the Valentine's Day theme. This was a perfect novella. A speed dating event ended up with the main character, Chloe, abducted, and she had to fight for her life. The chapters were full of tension and wondering. I suspected everyone here, and I was kept guessing the entire time. It was heart pounding and just an excellent thriller. I am going to have to go back and read the other novellas in this series now.

Amazing. Dark, creepy, loved the alternating POV. Chloe was so resilient and smart. I don't know how the author came up with this and her attempted escape. It was a wild ride. Wish it was longer but it was also the perfect length. Loved the ending and the last sentence.

The best way to make an unhinged, creepy, Valentines story. This was right up my alley. Mulligan was able to create a short, compelling thriller and kept me guessing from the first page to the last. A speed dating night, gone very, very wrong.

I loved the different POV, and the before/now aspects. I also love that I didn’t guess the ending but it was like my train of thought on who done it was unfolding in each chapter. I pretty much suspected everyone and loved every minute.

Thank you Kristin Mulligan for the opportunity to review an eARC of Crazy Little Thing Called Love! Pub date will be 06 Jan 2026!

★★★★
Smart, suspenseful, and a little bit unhinged in the best kind of way.

Speed-dating. Valentine’s rash decisions. One vanishing act.

Mulligan flips the “love at first sight” trope into a heart-pounding game of hide-and-seek you shouldn’t be playing. From flirty smiles to forced laughter to chilling silence, this novella packs obsession, terror, and one spectacularly wrong “romantic spark.”

With the clock ticking toward Valentine’s Day and our MC waking up in a room that definitely isn’t date-night safe, the tension climbs fast. If you love thrillers with a bite of twisted romance, you’ll devour this in one sitting — just make sure the lights are on.

Kristin Mulligan Is a new author for me, and I’m so happy I have other books to go back and read now. I really appreciated the trigger warning at the beginning of the book, I think that is so thoughtful for readers that need it, and you definitely do not need to read the chapter she mentions to understand the rest of the book. I really liked this novella. It was the perfect length. It was all story and no filler, which I really liked. I loved the back and forth storyline, going from before the main character Chloe is abducted, to after, when she is locked in a dark room with no idea what’s happened to her. The main storyline is Chloe, a single woman in her early 30’s goes to a singles speed dating event at a local restaurant a week before Valentines Day. She’s hoping to meet someone so she has a date for the big day. She meets a lot of different men in the before chapters, some very nice, others horrible. In the after chapters she spent time trying to remember who took her. But she also spent time trying to outsmart the POS that took her. I honestly didn’t guess who took her for a while. Which I was shocked about. I really liked how it all came together, and I can’t wait to read more.

Chloe Simpson, still single in her early 30s, signs up for a speed dating event for singles, to be held on Friday, February 6, a week before Valentine’s Day, allowing enough time for singles to hit it off with someone and pair up for the big day. She will meet 15 men for 5 minutes each, hoping one of them will be the man of her dreams.
When she arrives there, she meets Jude, a drop-dead handsome paramedic that she hopes she will be paired with. Inside there are other good men. There’s Lucas, a handsome accountant; Dominic, a kind-hearted farmer who appears so wholesome; Peter, a podiatrist with a foot fetish, and Dustin, the over-animated organiser of the event. Then there’s Augustine, who gives Chloe the creeps, and Warren, who is horribly sexist and rude, Tyler, who is polished but still married, and the charming Grant.
Before the night is over, Chloe finds herself trapped in a dark space, with no way of escaping. It is clear that her captor is someone related to the speed dating night. But who is it? And what plans do they have for her?


The book is written in the 1st person present tense PoV of Chloe, with occasional chapters written in the 1st person present tense PoV of her kidnapper. The chapters alternate between Now and Before, meaning Before she was kidnapped.


WHAT I LIKED: The book raises questions about the fraught world of dating, with its dangers as much as the unrealistic expectations that this social ritual raises. The story also serves as a cautionary tale, in terms of alcohol combined with the malicious intentions of unknown people.

The author has thoughtfully provided a content warning for attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, physical violence and psychological stress, among other grievous crimes.

I liked the Main Character; her brand of honesty and self-awareness was very relatable. Her experience was so graphic and visceral that the trigger warnings made sense. I was totally hooked on the story as it played out. The writing was good, evoking imagery that was vivid and sensory.

For once, the Main Character’s profession is not just a random thing. Here, Chloe’s knowledge as an architect helps her in captivity. When she uses terms like drywall and caulk, we don’t question, how does she know.

There is a point in Chapter 9, in the Before, when Chloe tells us, I know where I’ll be held prisoner during the event, effectively and unknowingly foreshadowing the future for herself.

There are 15 men at the event who could have kidnapped Chloe. The mystery bothers us as much as it bothers her.

The name of the book, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, reminded me of the song by Queen. The chapter names are a playlist of some of my favourite songs from the 80s and 90s, and a few from the 60s and 70s too, songs I haven’t heard in ages. I’m going to listen to them once I’m done with this review.

The song titles cleverly evoke reactions and emotions that are the opposite of those evoked by the songs whose names they bear. Coupled with the story of unhinged love, the chapter names take on new meaning.

Here are some examples of the naming of the chapters:

Chloe finds herself trapped in a dark space = Come Undone (song by Duran Duran)
She is increasingly frightened after her cries have brought no help = Take My Breath Away (song by Berlin)
She first meets Jude = Can You Feel the Love Tonight (song by Elton John)
She finally remembers = It’s All Coming Back to Me (song by Celine Dion; this title was rather clever)


WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Nothing


WHAT DIDN’T WORK: There was one mistake, where the narrator tells us that Dustin has just made a wildly inappropriate remark. But Dustin hadn’t said anything at that point.
At one point, the captor reveals that the first woman he ever kidnapped escaped. We are never told who that woman was or what happened to her. This felt like a loose end.

ALL SAID AND DONE: The premise of unhinged love is not an uncommon one. But the clever way in which the author has packaged this story, showing us the danger posed by obsession and unhinged love, and the manner in which she has written it wins a big recommendation from me.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a tense, fast-paced Valentine’s Day thriller that pulled me in immediately. I read it in one sitting and was surprised by how much atmosphere Kristin Mulligan packed into such a tight novella.

Although this is Book 3 in the Holidays & Homicide series, each instalment is a standalone, and that worked perfectly for me as this was my first read by this author. I had no trouble following along, and now I’m genuinely curious to check out the others.

The story opens with a singles mixer held on 6 February, and what begins as awkward small talk and forced laughs quickly shifts into something far more sinister. The narrative moves between dual timelines and occasionally dual POVs, which adds strong momentum and kept me engaged throughout. I loved how the tension builds slowly and steadily, with that creeping sense that someone is watching long before Chloe realises the danger she’s in.

I didn’t guess the perpetrator at all, which is a huge win for me in a novella format. Mulligan delivers enough misdirection to keep the reveal landing cleanly without feeling forced.

A tightly written, unsettling little thriller with great pacing and a satisfying payoff. I’ll definitely be picking up the other titles in the series.

Valentine’s Day speed-dating event but unhinged. A chilling fight for survival, but she's just looking for love. From the first page you’re plunged into a head-spinning mix of claustrophobia, mistrust and raw, pulsing fear. While the short format keeps the pacing razor-sharp, the emotional impact lingers; your heart races, your skin tingles, and the question of “who can I really trust?” echoes long after the last page.

I loved the back and forth in the timeline; it kept the suspense building and building. I'm normally really good at guessing "whodunit" but I literally guessed everyone but the right one this time! Such a fantastic quick read.

Thank you Netgalley for this read! Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a compelling short thriller novella that delves into the dark complexities of obsession, stalking, and the illusion of love. The story begins with a seemingly ordinary singles mixer, but quickly spirals into a chilling mystery when Chloe is kidnapped. The narrative keeps readers guessing at every turn, challenging us to piece together clues and question every character’s motives. The final reveal is shocking and completely unexpected, making this an unforgettable read. A tense, fast-paced thriller that I highly recommend.

OKAY KRISTIN WTF. This was so scary OMG lol.

If you’re looking for a scary novella to keep you up at night, here you go! Chloe is at a speed dating event one minute and the next she wakes up locked in a dark basement with no way out. A dual timeline slowly unravels what happens and every single guy she met at the event will have you guessing if he’s the culprit.

Seriously so scary to me!

I have read Kristin Mulligan‘s other books and loved them. A Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a fast paced exciting thriller. So many suspects… so well done. Loved the song titled chapters. 5 ⭐️

Amazing! I literally was guessing each time as it flipped back between the speed dating and her capture. Kristin has an incredible talent in not only steamy, but as shown in the descriptive details: suspense!

🍷 For Fans of:
- Suspense thriller
- Valentine’s Day
- Novella
- Dual Timeline
- Dual POV
- Suspense
- Unhinged Romance

⭐️ 5.0 True Rating
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
I absolutely loved this novella. It drew me in and was so fast paced while also making you suspect everyone, it was so good!

I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. The story telling was so compelling, I’d highly recommend it for anyone who needs a little thriller in their life!

🖤 Thank you to author Kristin Mulligan, and NetGalley for the digital advanced reader copy. As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by @kristin.mulligan

5 stars

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Kristin Mulligan was such a gripping thriller! I loved how the story jumped between the past and present, violently pulling both timelines together until everything collided in the “now” with the long-awaited reveal of the abductor. The way the tension built had me flying through chapters, desperate to piece together the truth.

And one of the coolest touches? Each chapter having its own song title. It added such a fun, cinematic vibe and made the reading experience feel even more dynamic and immersive.

A chilling mystery, a clever structure, and a built-in soundtrack, Kristin Mulligan delivered an ARC that absolutely hits all the marks! Read this one as soon as it drops on 1/6/26!

In Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Kristin Mulligan, Chloe attends a speed-dating event looking for love, but when she vanishes later that night, the evening’s hopeful smiles give way to obsession and terror. She wakes up in an unfamiliar room and must race against time to figure out who kidnapped her and how to escape before it’s too late.

#CrazyLittleThingCalledLove
#KristinMulligan #ThrillerReads
#NovellaLove #BookishThrills
#PageTurner #BookReview
#ARCReview #KidnappingThriller
#MustReadThriller #bookstagram

3.5 stars - enjoyed this thriller novella set around Valentine's Day with the speed-dating meat-up from hell. Easy to read & fun. My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the advance readers copy - much appreciate the opportunity to check it out

I loved every page of this book and seriously couldn't put it down until I finished. It’s a chilling, fast-paced thriller novella that turns the search for romance into a nightmare. It’s a suspenseful, dark, unhinged story, this book takes the Valentine's Day theme and fills it with terror and obsession instead of hearts.

The main character, Chloe, attends a speed dating event hoping to find a romantic spark before Valentine’s Day. The evening is filled with awkward encounters, but one of the men she meets is not looking for love—he is looking for a victim. When Chloe suddenly vanishes and wakes up kidnapped in a dark, unfamiliar room, the story becomes a desperate race for survival.

The suspense is razor-sharp by jumping between two timelines: the "Before" (the speed dating event) and the "Now" (her fight for life in captivity). This back-and-forth narrative style makes you question every single man Chloe met, turning the read into a "whodunit" mystery where you’re constantly trying to figure out which of the hopeful dates is actually the terrifying captor. I absolutely did not figure out who the villain was until the very end, you really do jump from one to another and back again throughout the story.

This novella is highly recommended. It’s tense, and guarantees a heart-pounding experience that will make you rethink ever trying speed dating. Be sure to check the content warnings, as it deals with some serious, dark themes.

Oh do I love a Kristin Mulligan thriller. This one was great. Chloe’s memories of a speed dating event are interspersed with her waking up having been kidnapped. Chloe tries to survive in the dark while remembering back to try and figure out who took her. I too tried to figure out who had taken her the whole time but kept guessing wrong! I loved the twists in this one and hope Chloe got to talk about those conspiracy theories at the end!

Thank you to the author and publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kristin Mulligan delivers another wild, fast paced thriller that hooked me from page one. I never know what to expect from her stories… my theories were flipping back and forth the entire time and this novella was no exception. Chloe is a compelling, fierce protagonist and I loved following her through every sharp turn and tense moment.

For a shorter format, this story still delivered excellent pacing, real tension and a twisty plot that kept me guessing. A fantastic continuation to the Holidays and Homicides series. I’m already counting down to whatever comes next.

Chloe decides to go to a speed dating event just before Valentine’s Day but things take a turn. If you’re in the mood for a novella that not only keeps your interest but also has you on edge and keeps you guessing, I definitely recommend this novella. I liked that you get a bit of a happy ending as well.

Ohhh boy. Was this a creepy one. I loved the format - going between the before and now. It added to the mystery and encouraged the reader try to decipher some clues along the way. I was hooked immediately and kept trying to guess who the creepy guy was! And being in complete darkness. The way those scenes were written - so realistic and unnerving. This was such a fun and terrifying read. I will always pick up a holiday novella written by Kristin.

Chloe never expected to find true love at a speed dating event, but with Valentine's Day just a week away, why not give it a shot? The evening is filled with awkward small talk and flirty smiles, but hidden among the hopeful faces is someone who has been waiting to confess their undying love for Chloe. When Chloe vanishes later that night and wakes in an unfamiliar room, she has little time to figure out who took her—and even less of a chance to escape before the situation turns deadly.

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is the third installment in Mulligan's suspenseful Holiday & Homicide series. Instead of a Christmas theme, we delve into the upcoming Valentine's Day season, where Chloe participates in speed dating but later awakens in a stranger's room against her will. I instantly liked Chloe; she was super direct and wasn't scared to say what she thought. She also showed great intelligence and bravery in dire situations.

As for her captor, what a psycho! It was quite entertaining to observe his delusions from his perspective. It was enjoyable attempting to determine his identity, as Mulligan skillfully presented several shady characters who could have been responsible. Ultimately, the revelation was satisfying, and the conclusion was well-executed. Mulligan's novellas are consistently delightful; they reliably provide a fast-paced story that is difficult to put down!

A thriller novella centered around Valentine’s Day…what could go wrong around Valentine’s Day? It’s all hearts, love, and chocolate…right??

Chloe was just looking for a date, so a speed dating event seemed like a good place to find one, but what she found was not quite what she was looking for. This novella brought all the vibes, I couldn’t put it down! Multiple suspects & dual POV, which for me, helped build the suspense. I thought I knew who our bad guy was but boy was I wrong multiple times!! I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced, fun, thriller read. There are some trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, so make sure you check those out. This novella is scheduled to be published on January 6th, 2026!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC of this novella in exchange for my honest review.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is the third book in @kristin.mulligan’s Holidays & Homicide novella series, though it is a standalone, so if you haven’t read the other two, that’s totally okay! Chloe is searching for the love of her life… or at least a date for Valentine’s Day during speed dating. She wakes up in a dark locked room with no way out and no memory of how she got there. She has to pick apart her memory to figure out who abducted her if she wants a chance to escape. I LOVED IT!! This is definitely one you will want to read in one sitting. It’s a locked room, obsession, and abduction trope told in the past and present with dual POVs sprinkled in. The writing did an excellent job of placing me in Chloe’s shoes. My heart was beating as if it were actually happening and it actually kept me guessing! I read a lot of thrillers and I can usually guess the twist or the guilty party, but I had no idea who was behind the kidnapping this time. That’s the true sign of a good book in my opinion. Each chapter was short, which was great because it kept me turning pages. I just loved how every chapter title was a hit 80s or 90s love ballad, even the book title itself. Kristin has a knack for writing these holiday thrillers and I can’t wait to read her take on the next holiday! I cannot recommend Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Kristin Mulligan enough! Mark your calendars for its release day, 01/06/26 make sure you run out and buy it!!! Thank you, @netgalley @kristin.mulligan & @victoryeditingngc for the opportunity to read and review!

I loved this novella! Lots of creepy, atmospheric suspense! Glad I kept the lights on and the door locked while reading. My only complaint? That it was a full length novel.

Kristin Mulligan made Speed Dating unhinged and Valentine’s Day a bloody mess. Although the first two books in this novella series are Christmas related and connected, Crazy Little Thing Called Love is more standalone and focuses on Chloe single and alone but not giving up on dating just yet before upcoming Valentine’s Day. Except Chloe wakes up in a small pitch black room with only a toilet and soon realizes almost any guy at the speed dating event could have been the one who abducted her. The book shuffles between before and now chapters as Chloe struggles on escaping and also remembering what happened at the speed dating event. A stalker thriller with a surprisingly HEA and probably my favorite in this novella series!

I loved this holiday novella! I loved it so much that I immediately went to KU and binged the first two in this Holidays & Homicide novella series! Spoiler alert-I loved those also! If you want a quick, fun read that is also disturbingly graphic at times, pick this up!

When Chloe attends a speed dating night, little does she know the terrifying and desperate ordeal that awaits when she doesn't make it home.
This was a sharp and utterly gripping read, brilliantly illustrating Chloe's initial despair and her fierce, growing resilience.
The story throws you into her isolated world of captivity, silence and darkness.
Going through every stage of realisation with Chloe as she searches for a way out perfectly highlights her courage and determination.
The back-and-forth narrative bringing out more clues had me furiously ticking off suspects.
I loved the chapter titles, each one making me smile during an otherwise difficult read at times, and the ending was wrapped up as neatly as a Valentine's card tied with a bow.

Speed dating. Fifteen men. Five minutes each. One captor.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author 🙏 for providing me with an advance review copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to read and review this gripping novella ahead of publication.

I appreciate the trust placed in reviewers to engage thoughtfully with stories like this one, especially when they explore challenging and relevant themes. Access to ARCs through NetGalley continues to be invaluable in supporting early engagement, honest feedback, and meaningful discussion within the reading community.

On paper, Crazy Little Thing Called Love sounds like a rom-com setup. In reality? It’s a tight, nerve-shredding psychological thriller that turns modern dating into a literal survival game, and honestly, it does not play nice. Chloe Simpson, single and thirty-something, signs up for a speed dating event strategically timed just before Valentine’s Day. The logic is painfully relatable: meet someone now, skip the February 14th loneliness spiral later. What she doesn’t expect is that by the end of the night, she’ll be trapped in a dark space with no escape, fully aware that her captor is one of the men she casually chatted with over awkward smiles and timed rotations.

That premise alone is anxiety fuel, and the book absolutely leans into it.

What works well for me 😊

The dating commentary hits hard.
This novella doesn’t just scare you, it makes you think. The story quietly interrogates how unsafe dating can be, especially for women, and how easily danger hides behind charm, politeness, or social norms. Add alcohol to the mix, plus the pressure to be “nice,” and suddenly the risks feel disturbingly realistic. This isn’t exaggerated horror; it’s the kind that makes you side-eye everyone.

The structure is smart and effective.
The alternating Now and Before chapters are doing serious heavy lifting. Watching Chloe’s earlier impressions of the men- Jude the gorgeous paramedic, Lucas the accountant, Dominic the wholesome farmer, Grant the charmer, while knowing one of them will destroy her life, creates nonstop tension. Every interaction becomes suspicious in hindsight. The mystery isn’t just who did it, but how you missed the signs.

The occasional first-person POV chapters from the kidnapper? Chilling. Just enough insight to unsettle you without giving the game away.

Chloe is a strong, believable protagonist.
Her voice is honest, self-aware, and refreshingly grounded. She doesn’t suddenly become superhuman in captivity, but she does use what she realistically knows. Her profession as an architect actually matters when she references drywall or caulk; it feels earned, not convenient. That attention to detail adds credibility and makes her attempts to survive feel intelligent rather than lucky.

There’s also a brutal bit of foreshadowing in Chapter 9 (Before), where Chloe casually notes that she knows exactly where she’ll be during the event, unknowingly predicting her own imprisonment. It’s subtle, smart, and deeply unsettling on a reread.

The writing is visceral. This book doesn’t flinch. The fear, confusion, and psychological stress are written with sensory detail that makes the provided content warnings not just appropriate but necessary. The author clearly understands the weight of the themes and handles them with care rather than shock value.

The vibes💁🏼

The title is a clever nod to Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and the chapter titles are doubling as a playlist? Chef’s kiss. It adds a strange nostalgia to an otherwise dark story, and the contrast works. By the end, you’re not just shaken, you’re lowkey ready to queue those songs and emotionally decompress.

My Final thoughts:💭

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is fast-paced, disturbing, and painfully relevant. It takes something familiar, dating, and exposes how thin the line can be between romance and danger. With strong character work, a clever structure, and an atmosphere that keeps tightening the screws, this novella punches way above its weight.

The premise of unhinged love isn’t new, but the author’s execution is what makes this story stand out. By smartly packaging a familiar idea and exposing the real danger of obsession, the novel feels fresh, unsettling, and impactful. The writing elevates the concept, earning this book a strong recommendation from me.

This is not a comfort read. But if you like your thrillers psychological, character-driven, and uncomfortably real? Yeah. Read it. You will love it.😍

I absolutely loved this novella. If you're someone who doesn't blink at saying something like that about a dark, unhinged story, Crazy Little Thing Called Love is for you!

Everything here is so well done. There is not a wasted word and this story is a great example of how good novellas and short books can be. It's perfectly plotted out and keeps you invested, with just the right pacing to let the terror build without dragging. Short chapters and a main character who feels like a real person make it easy to read. I also loved that I didn't guess who the abductor was. I've read a lot of thrillers and whodunnits and my guess-rate is pretty good, so that was pretty cool.

This novella is #3 in Mulligan's Holidays & Homicide series but each book is a standalone. I've read and loved all three and would highly recommend each of them. Excellent suspense, terror, and (for books 1 & 2) slasher vibes.