The Day We Died

Sydney Booth #1

by Wendy Owens

Almost two decades after Sydney Booth’s father was imprisoned for being the ‘Lipstick Killer,’ she and her family are finally happy. They have new identities, and the secret that her father was a notorious serial killer is one Sydney and her mother will never share, not even with her brother, who was an infant when everything happened.

Sydney never dreamed after what she went through, that she would have a chance at love. After months of dating a new co-worker, it seems like that part of her life may be working out too. Everything seems perfect.

That is until a woman is discovered murdered, wearing the shade of lipstick her father put on the victims of his brutal killings. Sydney tells herself it’s impossible; it has to be a coincidence. Then another victim turns up. Does she go to the police and risk blowing up this new life they have all built for themselves or keep quiet? It soon becomes evident Sydney may not have a choice when she starts to suspect the killer might be someone she knows…

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 22, 2022

About the author

Wendy Owens is a thriller writer, born in the small college town, Oxford Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went onto a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork she gave her first love, writing, a try. It’s become a passion ever since.
When she’s not writing, this dog lover can be found spending time with her tech geek husband, their three amazing kids, and three pups. She loves to cook, watch movies, and play games.

If you want to follow her on social media you can visit:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyLOwens
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Reviews

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the previous two books published by Wendy Owens, I was excited to read this book as I enjoyed the other two. The Day We Died starts with Rachel being 10 years old and her brother Patrick is 3 years old and her mother is pregnant with their sister Carrie. One day Rachel and Patrick arrive home to the police. Turns out their life is about to change forever as her dad is arrested for multiple murders. The book then jumps forward to the present time and the characters have changed their names Rachel is Sydney Booth and Patrick is Michael. Their little sister Carrie, they never got to meet as she was adopted at birth. Sydney and her family have done everything to hide away from their old lives and to be new e.g the title - The Day We Died. The thing is though as Sydney is about to discover working as a CSI investigator - a new serial killer has hit their town and they are replicating her father's murders right down to the shade of lipstick. Has someone discovered Sydney's secret? Are old wounds about to be reopened? This was a good read and I had inklings about who the killer would be and when revealed, I was correct. I am now looking forward to Sydney's next book about her job in the FBI. I also am hoping we may get to meet Carrie as that would be awesome for Sydney to have some more family around after everything that happened in The Day We Died. If you love murder mysteries and tv shows like CSI and Criminal Minds, then The Day We Died by Wendy Owens is the thriller for you.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intriguing story with a few twists that took me by surprise.





As a child, Sydney’s family life seemed perfect until one cold and snowy night when everything fell apart. As a result, they changed their names and worked to put it all behind them. While I am unable to understand what that would be like, this author did a great job of inviting me into Sydney’s current life and through her emotions I was able to experience a bit of what it might be like.





Sydney struggles to do her job even as the horror of her past rises up to threaten her. My heart was being pulled in every direction on her behalf and I never knew which way to look for who the villain was going to be. There are plenty of options and while I did guess who it was, I did so only because I was accusing everyone of being the bad guy.





I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and rather short, but it didn’t lack for the criminal elements and twisted characters that make a fascinating crime read. I’m definitely going to be checking out the next book in the series. (This does not end in a cliffhanger.)

Heroine POV
Safe not a romance although the h is involved with someone - no cheating or ow drama
Triggers violence; this includes actions of a serial killer

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliantly addictive piece of writing! It kept me hooked waiting to discover if this was a relative with similar leanings and there were a few possibilities throughout the book! Or maybe it was some other nefarious character probably hiding in plain sight waiting to cause as much harm as possible to our main character whilst getting their rocks off with these copy-cat murders!
The ending was a little predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride so that's easily forgiven and it might be down to the sheer number of thrillers that I read!

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first dip into the world of Wendy Owens and I liked it, really really liked it.

THE DAY WE DIED is first and foremost a psychological thriller and then a romance. We opened with A young girl finding out her father was a killer, then she learns just how many women he's killed and by the end of the trial the life she knew was gone she was no longer little Rachel she was now Sydney and much older than her eleven years. Your heart will break for this young girl and all that her family has gone through at her fathers hands but she is determined to right the wrongs even if no one knows her motives.

When Sydney grows up she becomes a forensic specialist and processes crime scenes and then her life changes again when she comes across a homicide so much like the ones her father committed it's eerie. So of course she begins to question everything and everyone.

Read my FULL review and an Excerpt here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewTDWD




**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
**I also pre-ordered a kindle copy
You can find me here:  https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic

[Tanya R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in 2 days as I just HAD to know who the murderer was!

Great writing made this both entertaining and a page turner.

A seemingly copycat serial killer story will get me every time. That's like sociopath on top of sociopath behavior!

I guessed the killer pretty early on but it was fun to follow the paths that the author takes the reader down, casting suspicion on different characters throughout the book.

Check this one out if you enjoy fast paced Thrillers! Glad that this is a book 1 of a new series. I'll be patiently waiting for Book 2.

[Suzi (Lil Bit Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sydney Booth loves her job as a crime scene technician, but she hides a dark secret – she used to be Rachel Simmons, the daughter of the infamous and prolific serial killer known as “The Lipstick Killer.” Her father eventually got the death penalty for his crimes, and Sidney has worked hard to put her past behind her. Her life is going well – she loves her career, and she finally has a relationship that has lasted longer than six months. When she finds herself collecting evidence at a crime scene where the victim is wearing the exact (and discontinued) shade of lipstick her father applied to all of his victims, she’s filled with dread. Hoping against hope that it’s a coincidence, Sydney fears that someone knows about her secret past and will destroy everything she’s worked so hard to build.

At only 212 pages, “The Day We Died” is a quick read. It’s got a solid plot that’s told in simple, straightforward prose. This book is perfect for newer suspense readers, as seasoned fans of the genre may guess the ending fairly early on. Although some parts were a bit predictable, Sydney is an appealing protagonist and the storyline held my attention.

“The Day We Died” is the first book in Wendy Owens’s new Sydney Booth series, so although the main storyline wraps up, stay tuned for future crime scene investigation adventures. Many thanks to NetGalley and the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me an advance copy of this book.

[Read All About It · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and I have to say I enjoyed the book.

At times I was a little confused but hopefully by the time its published all that will be fixed.

Copy cat killer has Sydney on edge. Her father was a serial killer and this killer is killing with the same method.

The mystery was suspenseful and captivating

[lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. I love a good suspenseful story and boy was this one suspenseful. This author definitely had you on edge wondering what was going to happen next. I had an idea who the killer was or should I saw I had it narrowed down to two. I did not expect it to play out the way it did though. The characters in this book played their part perfectly. I loved it. Definitely a lot of moving parts in this book. I only wish there was more about one particular person but I won't say anymore about that. I really liked the ending, it was really good. Definitely recommend this book.

[Corina Ciobanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book by this author and surely won’t be the last.

The book kept me on edge from the beginning till the end. I will admit I had my suspicions about who the killer might be and I was right about one of them.

The MC is beautifully written - she’s strong and self centered considering her background. I loved her

Thank you Wendy for giving me the opportunity to read the advanced readers copy, I truly enjoyed it ❤️

[KristieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in theSydney Booth series - it is a great read and I’m looking forward to am the additional books.

This is an intriguing suspense novel that I binge read in one sitting so I could find out what happened. Wendy takes on an adventure filled with full of twist and turns, interesting characters and a surprise ending.

I received a complimentary copy and I am leaving my honest review.

[Sophie Ruthven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic way to start a series from an author I'm quickly falling in love with.
The only 'complaint' I have was that I wish there were more pages because I couldn't get enough and I had to keep putting it down as I was speeding through it far too quickly, so that should speak volumes on the quality of the book, the characters and the plot.
In fact I'm not going to say much more as you should go in blind, your head will be spinning trying to piece it all together.
Definitely recommend and can't wait for the next book.

[smell_of_a_book · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Book review✨
The Day We Died
By Wendy Owens

This was a first time read from this Author for me, but it won’t be the last! This book is the first in the Sydney Booth series, and I’m ready for more!

Really enjoyed the steady flow of this one, and it allowed me to complete it in only a few hours! Couldn’t put it down!

A little bit predictable at times, (this can happen when you read as much as I do), but overall still exciting and kept me reading!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is released on June 23rd so be sure to pick up a copy and read it for yourself!

Thanks to @netgalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Melanie]

Sorry but this is a DNF for me and will not receive a rating as I'm less than 50% in. This was a first time read by the author, so with only the synopsis I went in a little blind (Other than I like serial killer books).

Everything with this just felt forced to me. I didn't like Rachel/Sydney at all, I won't give spoilers but felt she liked to jump to conclusions rather fast especially with 'a family member' when technically they have been through something HUGE together. It's fast paced, but felt very 'bitty' and just didn't really flow for me at all.

Loads of others have loved this book, sorry its not for me. Look at other reviews, would be my advice. This is a kindle unlimited read so free if you subscribe (Fairly quick read at a guess too as its short).

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because this is such a short book, it tries to squeeze a lot in, and because of that it lacks depth.
I don't know if I missed something, or if it was ever explained, why a copy cat killer meant Sydneys family had been outed.
Predictable from very early on I'm afraid.
Just wasn't the one for me.

[Robyn Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly, what a story! The beginning hooked me in straight away, and although there was a lot in the middle with plenty of drama, it wasn’t until towards the end that everything became extremely exciting again. The middle part was imperative though, as it explained so much.

My heart went out to Sydney, to her family too, but mainly Sydney as her mother irritated me a bit. 😆 Sydney was such a strong person and she needed to be. She certainly took on her role of carer for her brother at a very young age. I liked how honest she was with herself too, even when she wasn’t sure about anything that was going on in her life.

The mystery of just who is the copycat serial killer is addictive and I literally couldn’t put the story down. It gives you quite a few suspects, I had a strong suspicion but I also had suspicions about a few of the characters. 😁 The suspense was fantastic and at the pinnacle of the story my heart rate was supercharged.

As with all thrillers, the content was serious and often made me ponder about things. However, in this book I also enjoyed some lighter moments, especially in Sydney’s thoughts about Frankie. 😀 A great balance, I believe. I look forward to reading the next book ‘An Influential Murder’.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sydney Booth, gifted CSI forensic technician, is in a tough spot, one that gives new meaning to the proverbial "caught between a rock and a hard place." At age eleven, her calm, always self-assured father was arrested, tried, convicted, and executed as an elusive serial killer. She, her two-year brother, and their mother moved out of state and legally changed their names. Decades later, Sydney is sent to one crime scene after another featuring victims killed and staged exactly as her father's multiple victims. Sydney fears the FBI will discover her family's true history and suspect her, but the actual danger is much greater and far closer than she could ever guess.

[Krystal Ayers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was obviously is super predictable book, but it was still a good little read. The killer being her brother could be seen from the very first few pages when he was being sketchy and not answering and of course they love to use the whole DNA of a killer idea. The main character, of course couldn’t see it at first because she loved her brother, and the fact that he ended up killing their mother, was kind of crazy. I am glad that her and Fletcher got closer and it actually didn’t drive them apart. That was probably the best part of the book.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling read

A riveting story about a family, who changed their names after the father was executed as a serial killer. Sydney, joined the CSI to atone for her father's crimes. I enjoyed following her life, and her relationships with other people. The characters sprang to life and they felt real. I look forward to reading more in this series.N

[Veronica LaRoche · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me and I’m glad I took a chance. Very intriguing story that had me hooked. Sydney’s father was a serial killer and now there is some copy cat. This story had me from page one. Definitely will be checking out more stories by this author.

[Stephanie Sabo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - This kept me entertained and was a quick read with good characters. Was it the best thriller I’ve ever read? No, but I enjoyed it. A few parts felt repetitive and it was a little predictable. I will read the sequel.

[Laura Reads Too Much · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by Wendy Owens and I can most definitely say that it won't be the last!!

This is Sydney's story of life after finding out her dad was a serial killer, moving away with new identities, new names, new life and it all seems great - until it's not! Until the same lipstick you're murdering dad used is now being used again and she has nowhere to turn without bringing her world crumbling down!

It was intriguing, addictive, well written and filled with angst - it was an excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!




*I voluntarily received an arc and this is my honest review.

[Nicole Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. This was short and fast paced, but the killer seemed both obvious and also unearned at the same time? But I was entertained, so starting the sequel now (which is even shorter!)

[Lofty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4*
From a young age Sydney knew to keep secrets especially when they were forced to relocate after her father was convicted of murder.
The job she does is her way of helping get answers for the victims and their families.
As we know secrets always come to light.
Nice story.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty years after Sydney Booth's father was executed for being the Lipstick Killer someone is killing women in exactly the same way. Sydney vows to uncover who it is. Edge of your seat suspense. Really enjoyed this book.

[Bekah Hubstenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I was eleven the day my brother, mother, and I died. In a way, I guess you could say my father killed us. Technically, we’re all still alive, but our lives and the people we were ended. When the police arrested my father for being the “Lipstick Killer,” a psychopath who murdered at least thirty-seven women, I was no longer afforded the luxury of being a little girl.”

Sydney is an CSI technician who is skilled at her job because she can put herself in the mind of the criminal and think outside of the box to locate forensic clues that others might overlook. While on a case she notices the victim wearing what she suspects is the exact shade of lipstick her father put on his victims. She convinces herself she is paranoid but after working a second case where the same lipstick is applied on the victim she knows there is something else at play and wants to solve the case herself.

The prose is straightforward and the plot advances at an appropriate speed but overall the story is generic. There are no real plot twists and the actual killer and his reasoning is quite cliche. This isn’t a bad book it is just not the best of this sub genre. Read The Hunters Daughter instead for bigger thrills, more nuanced/flawed characters and reveals you didn’t see coming.

[Maria Angie Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

When family tragedy strikes and you try to keep secrets to protect family members it never ends well!
That theory was put to the test in this emotional suspenseful crime psychological thriller and it did not disappoint.
This story had a little bit of everything to keep me intrigued and interested from beginning to end.

Our heroine Sydney has an otherwise boring non eventful life. THAT fact is very deliberate and most of her excitement is from her job as CSI technician. A new murder case has her life turn upside down and the new developments surrounding it has her going down a dark path in her life she does want to encounter.

Family tragedy, family secrets and lies and so much more!
Trying to unravel the family secrets and determining if anyone from her job is a suspect kept me on the edge of my seat!

Everyone becomes a suspect with the new developments surrounding her.

Well paced and a well developed plot line made this story one heck of a whodunnit story!
I’m not saying anything!
How it all turns out you’ll have to read and find out.

The ending was a little predictable and I wished we had had more family backstory but it didn’t take away from enjoying this story!

[Clayr Catherall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great psychological thriller.

This story had me hooked from beginning to end. It was full of suspense.

Sydney has moved on with her life. Her childhood wasn’t the easiest, but she’s finally happy. She loves her job as Crime Science Technician, and has put the past behind her. That is until the past comes to haunt her.

Exciting start to this series. Looking forward to reading more.

[Holly Storkel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty predictable

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sydney Booth is an outstanding crime scene investigator from a relatively small town.

She lives fifteen minutes away from her mom and now shares her home with her brother Michael.

For about six months now, Sydney has been dating a highly successful real estate agent. That's very strange because Syd doesn't like long relationships, but they both seem to be on the same page about not having kids and taking things slow.

One fine day while investigating a crime scene Sydney's quiet life takes an expected turn. Because she is facing a copycat of a famous serial killer known as the Lipstick Killer, and also known as her father.

Sydney's story will be exposed as she has always feared. Everyone will learn that her real name is Rachel and that she and her family had to change their identities when she was a child.

In fact, her brother was three years old and remembers nothing. Both Syd and her mother have kept the truth from her.

What did I like about The Died We Died?

Intriguing and refreshing plot for me.
I don't know if other people have read something similar, but it's not my case.

Simons family’s reinvention was a necessary thing, however, they left some loose ends and one of the members makes some mistakes as well that put everything in jeopardy.

CSI meets Criminal Minds in a book
I literally felt like I was in a crossover of two of my favorite series, CSI and Criminal Minds as I immersed myself in the story completely. I think I would have liked to know more details about both killers and their cases, but maybe too much Criminal Minds.

The boyfriend is always the culprit, isn't he?
This is a premise that ran through my mind all the time, and I was wondering if it was too obvious that it was the boyfriend or that I was letting it go because of that.

I just have to say that the plot always keeps us thinking about all the characters as potential culprits, even the mom came to my mind.

And much more, I think this review may not do justice to how much I enjoyed it. In fact, I read it in three days, which for me is quite an accomplishment.

My rating is 5 exciting stars, and this is a series I will definitely be following.

[~lil maso~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly, what a story! The beginning hooked me in straight away, and although there was a lot in the middle with plenty of drama, it wasn’t until towards the end that everything became extremely exciting again. The middle part was imperative though, as it explained so much.

My heart went out to Sydney, to her family too, but mainly Sydney as her mother irritated me a bit. 😆 Sydney was such a strong person and she needed to be. She certainly took on her role of carer for her brother at a very young age. I liked how honest she was with herself too, even when she wasn’t sure about anything that was going on in her life.

The mystery of just who the copycat serial killer is addictive and I literally couldn’t put the story down. It gives you quite a few suspects, I had a strong suspicion but I also had suspicions about a few of the characters. 😁 The suspense was fantastic and at the pinnacle of the story, my heart rate was supercharged.

As with all thrillers, the content was serious and often made me ponder about things. However, in this book, I also enjoyed some lighter moments, especially in Sydney’s thoughts about Frankie. 😀 A great balance, I believe. I look forward to reading the next book ‘An Influential Murder’.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

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