Three new thriller novels from Raphael Montes, Janice Hallett, and Liane Moriarty offer engaging narratives that combine elements of suspense, dark humor, and social commentary.

Raphael Montes’s *The Secret Dinner* is a provocative tale set in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on a group of financially strained young adults who launch an underground catering business that serves human flesh to wealthy clients. The novel blends satire, horror, and dark wit, echoing themes reminiscent of the musical *Sweeney Todd* and Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.” The story follows Dante, a 24-year-old bookstore clerk who narrates the events and struggles to maintain a moral compass amid the grim enterprise. However, the operation soon attracts the attention of a blackmailing aristocrat and corrupt police, complicating the group’s efforts in disturbing ways. The novel has been noted for its graphic and unsettling content and is considered unsuitable for those with sensitive stomachs.

Janice Hallett’s *The Silent Appeal* revisits the Fairway Players, a chaotic amateur theater group familiar to readers from her previous work, *The Appeal*. In this sequel, the troupe tries to stage a production of Agatha Christie’s *The Hollow* while grappling with dwindling membership and internal tensions. The novel is constructed through a collection of emails, texts, and WhatsApp messages that serve as evidence in a murder investigation, with the victim’s identity revealed only later in the story. Hallett uses sharp observational humor to portray the eccentric and often flawed characters, exploring themes of ambition, deceit, and the complexity of human relationships within the quirky theatrical setting.

Liane Moriarty’s *Big Little Truths* continues the story of five women—Madeline, Renata, Jane, Celeste, and Bonnie—introduced in her bestselling novel *Big Little Lies*. Set a decade after the events of the original book, this sequel examines the women’s enduring friendship as they navigate the challenges of middle age, including family dynamics, aging parents, and personal health issues. The narrative shifts focus to their children, who face their own crises at the local high school following the discovery of a severed finger delivered to the new principal. This eerie development catalyzes various reactions, reflecting the tensions and anxieties within the school community. Moriarty introduces new characters, such as Melody Montclair, a charismatic history teacher with a captivating — and potentially unsettling — influence over students and parents alike, and Brenda, a school counselor who confronts skepticism and condescension from the students she seeks to help. The novel blends humor, emotional depth, and dramatic tension, and its storyline may inform future installments in the HBO adaptation of the series.

Together, these three novels offer diverse approaches to thriller storytelling, ranging from visceral horror to intricate mystery and psychological drama, appealing to readers interested in multifaceted plots and character-driven suspense.