⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review: A Date to Die For by Gaylene B. Corben 

A Date to Die For is a gripping, dark, and superbly paced crime thriller that pulls you into the underbelly of Sydney’s coastline and refuses to let go. Gaylene B. Corben wastes no time in setting the stakes high: a third mutilated body discovered on a beach, a killer who stalks his victims through online dating profiles, and a pair of detectives who must race the clock before a fourth woman is claimed.

Detective Joseph Paterson and his partner, Tessa Mariani, form a compelling investigative duo — flawed, human, and brilliantly written. Joe carries the quiet weight of past cases, while Tessa’s sharp wit and fierce determination cut straight through the darkest corners of the investigation. Their dynamic is one of the aspects I enjoyed most: two people battling their own internal storms while trying to catch a predator who never seems to leave a trail.

The killer, however, is not the usual cardboard villain. Corben builds him with chilling subtlety — intelligent, highly organised, methodical. Each murder scene is marked by two eerie signatures: a cryptic note and a single white rose. This recurring symbol becomes increasingly haunting as the story unfolds, adding layers of psychological tension and raising unsettling questions about motive, identity, and obsession.

What truly stands out is the pacing. Corben knows when to accelerate, when to breathe, and when to tighten the noose. The suspense grows naturally, driven by clues, misdirection, and the disturbing realisation that the killer is always one step ahead. The Sydney backdrop adds richness and grit, grounding the story in a setting that feels both beautiful and dangerous.

This is the kind of thriller that keeps your pulse elevated and your mind racing with theories — only to twist sharply when you least expect it.

 Fans of gritty crime fiction, character-driven investigations, and psychological tension will devour this book in a single sitting.

A brilliant, chilling, and highly satisfying read.

See my Goodreads review here. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐