finding my genre in 2015

Last year I really discovered what I enjoy reading. I'm definitely one of those people who is swayed by pretty covers and media buzz. A bestseller? Yes please! Unsurprisingly, this way of selecting reads hasn't proven successful.

Elizabeth is Missing - nah.
Us - nah.
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - meh.
The Miniaturist - nah.
Life After Life - meh.

So what don't I enjoy reading? My least favourite type of book is one where nothing happens. Ha, I know, sounds unsurprising. But you know the ones I mean - stories of ordinary people, who live ordinary lives, narrating the humdrum of everyday life and emotions. No thanks! I read to escape reality, not live it in its dullest form.

I like my books to be pacey, action packed and eventful. But most of all I like a mystery. Not like a scary ghostly mystery (...I don't do scary), but one where there is a secret and/or darkness. I've managed to collect and read lots of books which fit into this genre over the past year, and I've tried to pick my top four.

Woman being stalked by her crazy ex, scarily realistic, terrifying and haunting.
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes; review here. 

Someone hiding from their past on an Irish farm. Don't be fooled by the lame cover.
The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson; review here. (sorry, awful synopsis)

Riley spends her whole life thinking her teenage sister died... everything changes when she discovers she is still alive.
The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain; review here.

A kill club, a brother in prison charged with his family's murder and the sole survivor, Libby.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn; review here. 

So thank you 2015 - you educated me!
More importantly, what does 2016 have in store for me? I'm looking forward to travelling and (hopefully) having lots of time to read. I'll be taking my tablet and using the Kindle app which I'm slowly getting used to. These are currently topping my to-read pile - some mystery/thriller types, and some others thrown in for variation. I don't plan on blogging whilst I'm away (we go in February) but keep an eye on my instagram for short book reviews!