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After Everything You Did
It ends with a car crash. Two women, both maimed, their long blonde hair matted with blood.
It begins with waking up, in an unfamiliar hospital bed. Bright lights, nurses – and handcuffs.
She is told her name is Reeta Doe, and that she’s been in an accident. That she’s in Florida. That the FBI have been following her since Mississippi. That she has brutally murdered two women. College girls, who look just like her. Two more are missing, and one survived.
Reeta recalls nothing. She cannot answer the questions; all the things they want her to explain are no more familiar to her than the prison she is taken to. Her only hope is a journalist named Carol, who can follow the trail of devastation Reeta left in her wake.
All the way back to Pine Ranch, and the only family she ever knew.
An astonishing debut crime novel, exploring identity and nature versus nurture, with an unforgettable character at its heart. Perfect for fans of Girl A and The Girls.
It begins with waking up, in an unfamiliar hospital bed. Bright lights, nurses – and handcuffs.
She is told her name is Reeta Doe, and that she’s been in an accident. That she’s in Florida. That the FBI have been following her since Mississippi. That she has brutally murdered two women. College girls, who look just like her. Two more are missing, and one survived.
Reeta recalls nothing. She cannot answer the questions; all the things they want her to explain are no more familiar to her than the prison she is taken to. Her only hope is a journalist named Carol, who can follow the trail of devastation Reeta left in her wake.
All the way back to Pine Ranch, and the only family she ever knew.
An astonishing debut crime novel, exploring identity and nature versus nurture, with an unforgettable character at its heart. Perfect for fans of Girl A and The Girls.
360 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2022
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2205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
April 7, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY TO THIS INCREDIBLE BOOK
Thank you Canelo and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
5 stars across the board. Enough said? You wish!! I've always got more to say.
THE PLOT
Reeta wakes up in the hospital with no memory of her past or who she really is—but apparently she's a stone-cold killer responsible for the brutal deaths of four college girls that look just like her. Told across 20 years, Reeta and Carol—a journalist and an unlikely ally—try to find out the truth.
MY OPINION
Oh wow. A massive round of applause to Stephanie Sowden on a beautifully written debut. As with all books penned by extremely talented writers, this is so much more than just a mystery/thriller. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking exploration of racism, feminism, the counterculture movement, the death penalty, and other important topics that marked the 60s and 70s.
Sowden expertly injected realism from the time period into her characters; showing you what the world looked like just years after Jim Crow laws were struck down, when women were attending college in record numbers, when the death penalty and Vietnam war were at the center of a counterculture movement crying for peace. If you're unfamiliar with this time, or it's just been a hot minute since you've taken a history class, you will certainly learn the pained experiences of the marginalized while reading. Well done, Sowden.
Beyond the masterfully crafted historical/social commentary, I absolutely loved the story. I'm a sucker for a religious sect and this was it in all its glory. Once again, Sowden realistically depicted the leaps in logic that lead narcissists to exploiting religion and all the messy, disturbing consequences that follow.
I was a bit confused at the end, but I think the author intended it that way. If you read this book, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the ending. Feel free to send me a message.
All in all, a beautiful story in every regard. Historically accurate, beautiful "show don't tell" writing, strong character development, and well-plotted, this is a book I won't soon forget. A reminder: this isn't an in-your-face-thriller relying heavily on cheap shock value to keep readers engaged—I came for the thrills but stayed for the valuable story and intelligent writing.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: everything... this is a true 5 star read through and through (FOR ME)
Cons: nothing
Follow me on IG I'm funny over there too (hopefully)
Thank you Canelo and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
5 stars across the board. Enough said? You wish!! I've always got more to say.
THE PLOT
Reeta wakes up in the hospital with no memory of her past or who she really is—but apparently she's a stone-cold killer responsible for the brutal deaths of four college girls that look just like her. Told across 20 years, Reeta and Carol—a journalist and an unlikely ally—try to find out the truth.
MY OPINION
Oh wow. A massive round of applause to Stephanie Sowden on a beautifully written debut. As with all books penned by extremely talented writers, this is so much more than just a mystery/thriller. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking exploration of racism, feminism, the counterculture movement, the death penalty, and other important topics that marked the 60s and 70s.
Sowden expertly injected realism from the time period into her characters; showing you what the world looked like just years after Jim Crow laws were struck down, when women were attending college in record numbers, when the death penalty and Vietnam war were at the center of a counterculture movement crying for peace. If you're unfamiliar with this time, or it's just been a hot minute since you've taken a history class, you will certainly learn the pained experiences of the marginalized while reading. Well done, Sowden.
Beyond the masterfully crafted historical/social commentary, I absolutely loved the story. I'm a sucker for a religious sect and this was it in all its glory. Once again, Sowden realistically depicted the leaps in logic that lead narcissists to exploiting religion and all the messy, disturbing consequences that follow.
I was a bit confused at the end, but I think the author intended it that way. If you read this book, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the ending. Feel free to send me a message.
All in all, a beautiful story in every regard. Historically accurate, beautiful "show don't tell" writing, strong character development, and well-plotted, this is a book I won't soon forget. A reminder: this isn't an in-your-face-thriller relying heavily on cheap shock value to keep readers engaged—I came for the thrills but stayed for the valuable story and intelligent writing.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: everything... this is a true 5 star read through and through (FOR ME)
Cons: nothing
Follow me on IG I'm funny over there too (hopefully)
January 5, 2022
Reeta Doe wakes up in the hospital handcuffed to the bed with no memory of who she is or what has happened. The FBI tell her she’s been in a car accident and she has brutally murdered two college girls. Two more are still considered missing, one survived.
Reeta has no idea what they are talking about and cannot answer their numerous questions. Her only saving grace is a journalist named Carol who becomes heavily invested in Reeta’s story. She is determined to get to the bottom of what happened and figure out who Reeta really is.
This book totally surprised me. I was hooked from the beginning but I didn’t expect to get so emotionally invested in the story. I really enjoyed the rollercoaster ride. The plot twist was crazy. I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
Reeta has no idea what they are talking about and cannot answer their numerous questions. Her only saving grace is a journalist named Carol who becomes heavily invested in Reeta’s story. She is determined to get to the bottom of what happened and figure out who Reeta really is.
This book totally surprised me. I was hooked from the beginning but I didn’t expect to get so emotionally invested in the story. I really enjoyed the rollercoaster ride. The plot twist was crazy. I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
Read
March 25, 2023Well this took me by surprise! Half way thru I didn't think it was going to be fore me but I got sucked in and couldn't stop reading!
Reeta Doe finds herself handcuffed to a hospital bed with no recollection who she is or of any memory whatsoever.. She is told she is responsible for the murder of several college girls and one who has miraculously survived. The first part of the book focuses on her trial along with Carol, the journalist, who wants to help Reeta find her memories but at the same time have an exclusive connection to the story that has made national attention.
Intermixed between the trial we are swept back to take a look at Reeta's past, a place called Pine Ranch. This is where I lost some steam....I'm not a huge fan of cult books and was a little disappointed it went that direction. However, my disappointment was short lived because I was sucked in immediately and thought it was done very well and held my attention. My only quibble was how quickly the timelines changed. Normally I'm a big fan of different timelines but this didn't work for me as much. I would be so involved in the past and as soon as it switched to present I lost momentum. I felt like if it didn't flip timelines so quickly it would have worked more for me. But that's just me!
The ending! OMG there was just so much packed into that entire last part it was amazing. Confusing but amazing! I will admit I read a few times and may still not fully get it, but that's ok! I'm super glad I stuck thru this when I hit an element that usually doesn't interest me because this truly was a very good book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy!
Reeta Doe finds herself handcuffed to a hospital bed with no recollection who she is or of any memory whatsoever.. She is told she is responsible for the murder of several college girls and one who has miraculously survived. The first part of the book focuses on her trial along with Carol, the journalist, who wants to help Reeta find her memories but at the same time have an exclusive connection to the story that has made national attention.
Intermixed between the trial we are swept back to take a look at Reeta's past, a place called Pine Ranch. This is where I lost some steam....I'm not a huge fan of cult books and was a little disappointed it went that direction. However, my disappointment was short lived because I was sucked in immediately and thought it was done very well and held my attention. My only quibble was how quickly the timelines changed. Normally I'm a big fan of different timelines but this didn't work for me as much. I would be so involved in the past and as soon as it switched to present I lost momentum. I felt like if it didn't flip timelines so quickly it would have worked more for me. But that's just me!
The ending! OMG there was just so much packed into that entire last part it was amazing. Confusing but amazing! I will admit I read a few times and may still not fully get it, but that's ok! I'm super glad I stuck thru this when I hit an element that usually doesn't interest me because this truly was a very good book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy!
March 14, 2022
A young woman wakes up in hospital after a horrific car crash. She is told her name is Reeta and that she brutally killed two female college students. Police suspect she killed two more but their bodies have not been found. Oh, and there was an injured young woman in the boot (trunk) of her vehicle.
Police question extensively about the whereabouts of the other two bodies but Reeta cannot remember a thing. It is as if her life started when she woke up in hospital. In due course she is convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. Reeta doesn’t feel like the bad person everyone is saying she is. She wants to know more about her life and contacts Carol Joyce, a journalist who wrote about the case. Carol agrees to visit her and to research her earlier life. The police are on board as they are hoping it will jog Reeta’s memory. It doesn’t.
It was a good story and the writing was fine but I felt the book got bogged down in the middle when it explored Reeta’s early life (only life really) in the Pine Ranch cult. Sometimes I don’t mind a cult story but this one annoyed me. These cults are invariably lead by charismatic men who invariably prey on the young women among the members, filling their heads with nonsense about how they will become the mother of the ‘second coming’ of Christ. How do people not see through this rubbish? Anyway, there was too much of it in the book and it was boring. I know it shaped Reeta but even so.
Towards the end the author pulls out an excellent twist which I did not see coming. Of course it made perfect sense and rendered the story even more tragic than it was. But the very end - I found it to be too ambiguous and I wasn’t really sure which way to take it.
Although the Reeta character was very well fleshed out the other characters, not so much. The pacing was patchy and the story lagged at times. Full credit for an innovative plot and excellent twist. It will be interesting to see what the author comes up with next. Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Police question extensively about the whereabouts of the other two bodies but Reeta cannot remember a thing. It is as if her life started when she woke up in hospital. In due course she is convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. Reeta doesn’t feel like the bad person everyone is saying she is. She wants to know more about her life and contacts Carol Joyce, a journalist who wrote about the case. Carol agrees to visit her and to research her earlier life. The police are on board as they are hoping it will jog Reeta’s memory. It doesn’t.
It was a good story and the writing was fine but I felt the book got bogged down in the middle when it explored Reeta’s early life (only life really) in the Pine Ranch cult. Sometimes I don’t mind a cult story but this one annoyed me. These cults are invariably lead by charismatic men who invariably prey on the young women among the members, filling their heads with nonsense about how they will become the mother of the ‘second coming’ of Christ. How do people not see through this rubbish? Anyway, there was too much of it in the book and it was boring. I know it shaped Reeta but even so.
Towards the end the author pulls out an excellent twist which I did not see coming. Of course it made perfect sense and rendered the story even more tragic than it was. But the very end - I found it to be too ambiguous and I wasn’t really sure which way to take it.
Although the Reeta character was very well fleshed out the other characters, not so much. The pacing was patchy and the story lagged at times. Full credit for an innovative plot and excellent twist. It will be interesting to see what the author comes up with next. Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
March 13, 2022
After Everything You Did is a clever and compelling debut thriller. It is so much more than I imagined, in a good way. The story had me hooked from the beginning and that ending was - oh my god! Cannot wait to see what Stephanie Sowden has in store for us next after this.
A woman wakes up in the hospital, handcuffed to bed and with no memory of who she is or what she has done. The FBI tell her that they have been following her and she is now under arrest for murder of multiple women. She cannot remember anything and enlists the help of a journalist to help her.
That is pretty much all you need to know, but the story does go pretty dark and messed up. Set in the 1960's there is no phones or internet to help her and I loved that about this story. Highly recommend.
Thank to Netgalley and Canelo for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on April 6th.
A woman wakes up in the hospital, handcuffed to bed and with no memory of who she is or what she has done. The FBI tell her that they have been following her and she is now under arrest for murder of multiple women. She cannot remember anything and enlists the help of a journalist to help her.
That is pretty much all you need to know, but the story does go pretty dark and messed up. Set in the 1960's there is no phones or internet to help her and I loved that about this story. Highly recommend.
Thank to Netgalley and Canelo for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on April 6th.
December 18, 2022
A young female wakes up in a Florida hospital in handcuffs, badly injured, and she remembers nothing. She is told her name is Reeta and that she’s been in an accident; that she has brutally murdered two college-age women, two more are still missing and one survived. Once she is released from hospital and placed in jail, a journalist named Carol Joyce befriends her and attempts to follow the trail of devastation Reeta left in her wake.
This story takes place starting in the 60s and bounces around through different time periods and from different characters' viewpoints but everything was really well laid out and not confusing at all. The chapter numbering was a thing of beauty! I was drawn right into this story when I started to read it and hated having to put it down but somewhere around 60% I felt like the story got bogged down in descriptions of Reeta's early life in a religious sect based at an abandoned plantation and known as Pine Ranch. The story did regain some of its previous momentum but I wasn't as enthralled as at the beginning. The ending is rather ambiguous and open to different interpretations imo.
All in all, this is an excellent debut and I'll definitely be watching what this author produces in the future. Strangely enough I have a great-niece whose birth name was the same as this author's but she started going by her stepfather's name when she was quite young.
I own the Kindle edition of this book, purchased through amazon.ca.
This story takes place starting in the 60s and bounces around through different time periods and from different characters' viewpoints but everything was really well laid out and not confusing at all. The chapter numbering was a thing of beauty! I was drawn right into this story when I started to read it and hated having to put it down but somewhere around 60% I felt like the story got bogged down in descriptions of Reeta's early life in a religious sect based at an abandoned plantation and known as Pine Ranch. The story did regain some of its previous momentum but I wasn't as enthralled as at the beginning. The ending is rather ambiguous and open to different interpretations imo.
All in all, this is an excellent debut and I'll definitely be watching what this author produces in the future. Strangely enough I have a great-niece whose birth name was the same as this author's but she started going by her stepfather's name when she was quite young.
I own the Kindle edition of this book, purchased through amazon.ca.
April 29, 2022
DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR - READ THIS BOOK. I am getting myself the hardcover for my shelf I loved it so much. ♥️♥️
After Everything You Did - a story that spans several decades beginning in the 60’s and going through to the early 80’s. Two woman are found in a car crash on the side of a highway blood mattered in their blonde hair. The difference one woman is found in the boot with her head half caved in by a hammer.
Reeta wakes up in the hospital with no memory of anything - as she tries to move around she soon realises that she is handcuffed to the bed and the FBI have been chasing her for the murders of four college girls and one attempted murder. How can this be? Reeta has no memory of these unspeakable crimes, in fact, she has no memory of anything. Relentless questioning ensues and Reeta is unable to tell the FBI what they need to know, or is she faking it?
Carol , a journalist is Reeta’s only hope at gaining insight into her past and what she may or may not have done. Carol becomes Reeta’s unlikely alley and friend despite what seems to be a brutal open and shut case of multiple murders.
This story captivated me, the author has done an excellent job of writing from multiple POV - multiple time periods and not holding your hand the whole way through. You get to know the murdered girls through stories that Carol gathers and tells Reeta hoping to get her to regain her memory (to no avail), you get to know young Reeta through a series of past stories and the religious cult that she grew up in.
The abuse endured and the abandonment of logical thinking to allow people to blindly follow a man that believes himself to be a man of God leading them into heaven. It is truly shocking the abuse that is passed off as ‘acts of god’. The saddest thing about these stories is you know that people are brainwashed by this type of sect when they are at their lowest and have nothing left to believe in. Reeta’s upbringing is nothing short of tragic although she can not remember it - each step towards her past brings more and more tragic and horrific events into her world that maybe she doesn’t want to ever remember.
Reeta who is now disfigured from the crash, shy and mild in manner cannot reconcile herself with the horrific stories of brutalisation she is being accused of. Neither can she deny them as she simply has no memory. Feeling that if she is in fact the person they say she is, it is only right to leave it to the courts to decide her fate. Reeta is jailed and sentenced to death.
A friendship between Carol and Reeta blossoms as Carol tries throughout the years to prove who Reeta really is, despite the evidence. The author does an excellent job at allowing you to draw your own conclusions and the ending is something else. I think I read it four times to make sure I was right and to be honest i am only 90% sure of what I think. That is the beauty of what Stephanie Sowden has done, she has created a story that you have to think about and you really need to pay attention to the details to be sure you know, what you know or think you know.
I loved this book it truly is a 5 stars from me - I began reading it and then found it impossible to put it down. It was a wonderful look through the past as well - touching on topics that are uncomfortable and relevant. If this is Stephanie’s debut novel I can’t imagine how much better it gets from here. Well Done.
Thank you to Canelo, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this fantastic book for my honest review.
After Everything You Did - a story that spans several decades beginning in the 60’s and going through to the early 80’s. Two woman are found in a car crash on the side of a highway blood mattered in their blonde hair. The difference one woman is found in the boot with her head half caved in by a hammer.
Reeta wakes up in the hospital with no memory of anything - as she tries to move around she soon realises that she is handcuffed to the bed and the FBI have been chasing her for the murders of four college girls and one attempted murder. How can this be? Reeta has no memory of these unspeakable crimes, in fact, she has no memory of anything. Relentless questioning ensues and Reeta is unable to tell the FBI what they need to know, or is she faking it?
Carol , a journalist is Reeta’s only hope at gaining insight into her past and what she may or may not have done. Carol becomes Reeta’s unlikely alley and friend despite what seems to be a brutal open and shut case of multiple murders.
This story captivated me, the author has done an excellent job of writing from multiple POV - multiple time periods and not holding your hand the whole way through. You get to know the murdered girls through stories that Carol gathers and tells Reeta hoping to get her to regain her memory (to no avail), you get to know young Reeta through a series of past stories and the religious cult that she grew up in.
The abuse endured and the abandonment of logical thinking to allow people to blindly follow a man that believes himself to be a man of God leading them into heaven. It is truly shocking the abuse that is passed off as ‘acts of god’. The saddest thing about these stories is you know that people are brainwashed by this type of sect when they are at their lowest and have nothing left to believe in. Reeta’s upbringing is nothing short of tragic although she can not remember it - each step towards her past brings more and more tragic and horrific events into her world that maybe she doesn’t want to ever remember.
Reeta who is now disfigured from the crash, shy and mild in manner cannot reconcile herself with the horrific stories of brutalisation she is being accused of. Neither can she deny them as she simply has no memory. Feeling that if she is in fact the person they say she is, it is only right to leave it to the courts to decide her fate. Reeta is jailed and sentenced to death.
A friendship between Carol and Reeta blossoms as Carol tries throughout the years to prove who Reeta really is, despite the evidence. The author does an excellent job at allowing you to draw your own conclusions and the ending is something else. I think I read it four times to make sure I was right and to be honest i am only 90% sure of what I think. That is the beauty of what Stephanie Sowden has done, she has created a story that you have to think about and you really need to pay attention to the details to be sure you know, what you know or think you know.
I loved this book it truly is a 5 stars from me - I began reading it and then found it impossible to put it down. It was a wonderful look through the past as well - touching on topics that are uncomfortable and relevant. If this is Stephanie’s debut novel I can’t imagine how much better it gets from here. Well Done.
Thank you to Canelo, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this fantastic book for my honest review.
March 27, 2023
*A Puzzle of a case*
**4.5 Stars**
This story centres around a young woman who is told her name is Reeta. She has spent all her life as part of a cult, the infamous leader is to be admired and revered this is the only life she has ever known.
One day whilst out driving and having an accident the FBI who have been on her tail for some time arrest her for the murder of 2 college students and one who is missing. This is where things don’t go so well for her, as she is not alone. for one she has no recollection of her crimes and the FBI want her to pay. Is she telling the truth? A journalist named Carol may just be her only hope as she has written about the case Reeta thinks she can help her fill in the blanks
We follow Reeta’s case over the course a number of years with Carol digging deeper as she investigates while developing a close relationship to Rita.
Then Carol finds a piece of evidence that could potentially change everything. Then as the pieces start to fit together a tragedy happens, you will find yourself questioning what is true. I find that I am left with questions re the ending. That being said this a great debut Novel by Stephanie Sowden
**4.5 Stars**
This story centres around a young woman who is told her name is Reeta. She has spent all her life as part of a cult, the infamous leader is to be admired and revered this is the only life she has ever known.
One day whilst out driving and having an accident the FBI who have been on her tail for some time arrest her for the murder of 2 college students and one who is missing. This is where things don’t go so well for her, as she is not alone. for one she has no recollection of her crimes and the FBI want her to pay. Is she telling the truth? A journalist named Carol may just be her only hope as she has written about the case Reeta thinks she can help her fill in the blanks
We follow Reeta’s case over the course a number of years with Carol digging deeper as she investigates while developing a close relationship to Rita.
Then Carol finds a piece of evidence that could potentially change everything. Then as the pieces start to fit together a tragedy happens, you will find yourself questioning what is true. I find that I am left with questions re the ending. That being said this a great debut Novel by Stephanie Sowden
March 1, 2022
Question: What if you woke up in a hospital with amnesia? You are handcuffed to the hospital bed and police inform you that you brutality murdered two people. W-h-a-t?? 😲
Reeta Doe, is in a horrific car accident. She claims she does not remember anything due to a traumatic brain injury. She is told by FBI agents that she is charged with multiple murders and kidnapping. They question Reeta, but she tells them she cannot give them answers because her memory is blank. The police think she is faking her amnesia, but is she?
"After Everything You Did" is a debut. It is well written with a intriguing premise. It is a little slower in the middle, but Sowden wraps it up with a huge plot twist. I enjoyed the book and will recommend it to my friends. Congratulations Stephanie Sowden on a praise worthy first book! I look forward to reading more of her work.
"After Everything You Did" will be published April 7th
Thank you NetGalley and Canelo, for the honor of reviewing this outstanding debut. I appreciate it!
Reeta Doe, is in a horrific car accident. She claims she does not remember anything due to a traumatic brain injury. She is told by FBI agents that she is charged with multiple murders and kidnapping. They question Reeta, but she tells them she cannot give them answers because her memory is blank. The police think she is faking her amnesia, but is she?
"After Everything You Did" is a debut. It is well written with a intriguing premise. It is a little slower in the middle, but Sowden wraps it up with a huge plot twist. I enjoyed the book and will recommend it to my friends. Congratulations Stephanie Sowden on a praise worthy first book! I look forward to reading more of her work.
"After Everything You Did" will be published April 7th
Thank you NetGalley and Canelo, for the honor of reviewing this outstanding debut. I appreciate it!
April 27, 2022
This was a gripping story that I finished in a few hours. It centers on Reeta, who wakes up in a hospital room with no idea of who she is or how she got there. She’s told that she has been killing young girls and the FBI had been tracking her. Desperate for help, she reaches to a journalist named Carol and the rest of the story takes the reader through Reeta’s current and past circumstances, all of which provide great characterization and create evoke feelings of both sympathy and doubt.
The story takes place in the late 1960s, which is important to know because police work was obviously less sophisticated then. It was fascinating to read about how things were done during that time. The chapters alternate between the POVs of Reeta, Carol, and FBI agent Ben, and all were sympathetic and well-drawn characters. The flashbacks to Reeta’s childhood in a religious cult was interesting to me, even though I normally am uninterested in that type of storyline. I had a lot of ideas of twists that could be coming and was mostly surprised by the actual twists that occurred. The ending contained a big surprise that I imagine I’ll be thinking about long after today.
Overall, this is an extremely well written story that was both fast paced and sad, while very compelling. I was shocked this was a debut novel and am really excited to see what else this author comes up with. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes place in the late 1960s, which is important to know because police work was obviously less sophisticated then. It was fascinating to read about how things were done during that time. The chapters alternate between the POVs of Reeta, Carol, and FBI agent Ben, and all were sympathetic and well-drawn characters. The flashbacks to Reeta’s childhood in a religious cult was interesting to me, even though I normally am uninterested in that type of storyline. I had a lot of ideas of twists that could be coming and was mostly surprised by the actual twists that occurred. The ending contained a big surprise that I imagine I’ll be thinking about long after today.
Overall, this is an extremely well written story that was both fast paced and sad, while very compelling. I was shocked this was a debut novel and am really excited to see what else this author comes up with. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2022
After Everything You Did was a great find, an amazing debut and an unforgettable story that keeps you thinking even when it's over.
A beautifully written suspense and cult mystery novel, which features a number of things I love in different parts:
🔸️ cult crimes
🔸️ police procedural
🔸️ court room drama
🔸️ unexpected friendships
🔸️ multiple timelines
🔸️ unpredictable twist
A 4.5 star read that I'd definitely recommend!
It would have been 5 stars, easily, but for finding myself confused by the timeline changes in part 2 and a bit later on. Also long paragraphs and chapters are not for me, I find it makes it harder to read.
⚠️ Check TWs online ⚠️
A beautifully written suspense and cult mystery novel, which features a number of things I love in different parts:
🔸️ cult crimes
🔸️ police procedural
🔸️ court room drama
🔸️ unexpected friendships
🔸️ multiple timelines
🔸️ unpredictable twist
A 4.5 star read that I'd definitely recommend!
It would have been 5 stars, easily, but for finding myself confused by the timeline changes in part 2 and a bit later on. Also long paragraphs and chapters are not for me, I find it makes it harder to read.
⚠️ Check TWs online ⚠️
January 18, 2022
It ends with a car crash. Two women, both maimed, their long blonde hair matted with blood.
It begins with waking up, in an unfamiliar hospital bed. Bright lights, nurses – and handcuffs.
She is told her name is Reeta Doe, and that she’s been in an accident
And so begin this wonderful story of which I devoured in a few hours. I have to say that Reeta was a character that really got my emotions running, I was very invested in her and her story. I really thought I knew where this was going but guess what, I was wrong. This book had me from the moment I started it. It is extremely well paced, the characters are very believable. Lots of suspence and tension and totally engrossing, a five star read that I highly recommend.
It begins with waking up, in an unfamiliar hospital bed. Bright lights, nurses – and handcuffs.
She is told her name is Reeta Doe, and that she’s been in an accident
And so begin this wonderful story of which I devoured in a few hours. I have to say that Reeta was a character that really got my emotions running, I was very invested in her and her story. I really thought I knew where this was going but guess what, I was wrong. This book had me from the moment I started it. It is extremely well paced, the characters are very believable. Lots of suspence and tension and totally engrossing, a five star read that I highly recommend.
July 16, 2023
What an absolutely fantastic debut!
I loved the structure of this book with the mystery slowly unfurling, piece by piece. Striking an excellent balance between plot and character development, I was completely drawn into the story from start to finish, every chapter leaving me wanting to know more. I went into this book expecting a typical thriller, but that’s not what I got. What made me love this book was not big, shocking twists, but rather the clever and thought provoking mystery and the themes it explored.
I loved the structure of this book with the mystery slowly unfurling, piece by piece. Striking an excellent balance between plot and character development, I was completely drawn into the story from start to finish, every chapter leaving me wanting to know more. I went into this book expecting a typical thriller, but that’s not what I got. What made me love this book was not big, shocking twists, but rather the clever and thought provoking mystery and the themes it explored.
December 19, 2021
This book was dragging me right in,with its serial killer with no alleged memory of who they were,or if they had committed the crimes.
Were they faking? Would we ever find out why?
Several more things come to light as we go back to Reeta's past that had me flipping pages so quickly,that my poor brain could only just keep up.
A one sitting read for me,that continued to throw surprises right up to the end.
Quite the ride.
January 2, 2022
I had an idea of where this was going, then the book took that idea and was like, but what if we twist it again? I've read enough mystery/thrillers that I can usually ferret out the whodunits, so I always appreciate when a book is unpredictable/manages to surprise me.
January 1, 2023
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story and wish I could’ve gotten to it sooner, but such is life! The whole concept being told from multiple points of view and with an unreliable narrator to boot, really kept me hooked! I liked all the cult culture discussed and the twists, some of which I never saw coming! The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me, was the fact that it’s supposed to take place in Texas and other parts of the US but all the language is obviously written by someone in the UK. Take away all the added U’s in words and certain things we never say he, and it would’ve been much more believable for me.
I really enjoyed this story and wish I could’ve gotten to it sooner, but such is life! The whole concept being told from multiple points of view and with an unreliable narrator to boot, really kept me hooked! I liked all the cult culture discussed and the twists, some of which I never saw coming! The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me, was the fact that it’s supposed to take place in Texas and other parts of the US but all the language is obviously written by someone in the UK. Take away all the added U’s in words and certain things we never say he, and it would’ve been much more believable for me.
June 21, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. This was an ok book. I’m usually fascinated by crazy cults and serial killers so I was really looking forward to this one. However, I felt like it was just missing something.
April 9, 2025
This book was so depressing it took me a month to read. It is about cult life and the plot has similarities to what happened at Waco in 1993.
The pace increased and the storyline became more interesting three-quarters way through and my reading speed up towards the end .
The pace increased and the storyline became more interesting three-quarters way through and my reading speed up towards the end .
February 9, 2022
After Everything You Did had me hooked on the very first page. This is a story about Reeta Doe. It begins with her waking up at a hospital with no recollection of who she is, how she’s gotten there or why she’s wearing those uncomfortable handcuffs. She gets told her name is Reeta, how she’s been in a car accident and that she is currently in Florida. She learns that the FBI has followed her moves since entering Mississippi, after brutally murdering two women. Women that are identical to herself. With one survivor, and two other girls missing the agents are desperate to get answers out of Reeta- but she remembers nothing. Every question is met with a blank expression and the same phrase; i don’t know anything about these girls or who i supposedly am.
The prison she’s taken to becomes the only thing she knows. With interviews day in and day out, Reeta loses hope of ever finding out who she really is. But that was before she came across a journalist named Carol. Carol knew detailed information about her and her case. And when Reeta reached out to her, the need to give her some answers about the victims and Reeta herself was the only thing on her mind. No stone is left unturned, questions about truths is the only thing present, and Reeta is faced with what is possibly the only family she’s ever knew, Pine Ranch. But with no recollection of a life before awakening cuffed to a hospital bed, how can Reeta claim anything.. There is only one question etched on everyones mind; Guilty or not guilty?
I can not get into detail how much of a chokehold this book has held over me for the past hours. The suspense and the need to know more by every page I read made me devour this book. Mixed with the dark twists and turns. This was such a gripping story. My breathe has been held with anger and sadness present; READ THIS BOOK!
*thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
The prison she’s taken to becomes the only thing she knows. With interviews day in and day out, Reeta loses hope of ever finding out who she really is. But that was before she came across a journalist named Carol. Carol knew detailed information about her and her case. And when Reeta reached out to her, the need to give her some answers about the victims and Reeta herself was the only thing on her mind. No stone is left unturned, questions about truths is the only thing present, and Reeta is faced with what is possibly the only family she’s ever knew, Pine Ranch. But with no recollection of a life before awakening cuffed to a hospital bed, how can Reeta claim anything.. There is only one question etched on everyones mind; Guilty or not guilty?
I can not get into detail how much of a chokehold this book has held over me for the past hours. The suspense and the need to know more by every page I read made me devour this book. Mixed with the dark twists and turns. This was such a gripping story. My breathe has been held with anger and sadness present; READ THIS BOOK!
*thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
January 31, 2022
What would you do if you woke up in a hospital bed with no memory of your previous life and you were told that you are guilty of committing multiple, heinous murders? That is exactly the predicament that greets Reeta Doe.
I devoured this book. A compelling story that was beautifully and thoughtfully written with characters that live in my mind as real people. 'After Everything You Did' gripped me from its striking opening to an ending that knocked me off my feet.
Stephanie Sowden is an author to watch and I cannot wait for what she does next.
I devoured this book. A compelling story that was beautifully and thoughtfully written with characters that live in my mind as real people. 'After Everything You Did' gripped me from its striking opening to an ending that knocked me off my feet.
Stephanie Sowden is an author to watch and I cannot wait for what she does next.
December 2, 2022
I’m not sure how I feel on this. Maybe I should take more time to ponder before reviewing but that’s not my game: I finish a book, I review, jump into the next adventure. Anyway. The book. The first half I was IN IT. The writing was fantastic. Almost whimsical luring you into the time and all the messed up things that went on from cult aspects to racism and feminism. 🤌🏻 beautifully done. Then the plot and character. Completely invested. You have Reeta who wakes up not remembering a damn thing but is a serial killer who murdered girls in a super savage way. Yes! Another win. But about halfway in I just lost it. I don’t know if it was me personally having a moment with this book but I couldn’t engage anymore. I felt the pace got lost and dropped and I was just ready to flip to the end. Then when I finally did get into the end it was like wtf!!! I admire books when they don’t do what you think they’re going to do but either way I was bummed. But that’s a total personal loss. Ok so I may be all over the place on this review but overall my heart and mind just can’t give it a 4 much less 5 for the struggle I had in the end. This is a 3.5 rounded down for me.
January 8, 2022
After Everything You Did - Stephanie Sowden
1966, Reeta wakes up in hospital with no memory of her identity, her past or the multiple murders she is about to be accused of.
She knows nobody except for Carol, an investigative journalist determined to uncover the truth. The strands of the novel reveal the snippets that Carol's research can uncover and fragments from Reeta's life.
It's a very interesting premise, and I had high hopes. I like the idea of an amnesiac character, but the book didn't really work for me as a crime thriller. I felt like it was more like a scrapbook of character snippets and events.
I found it fairly slow and lacking tension or momentum, but it kept me interested enough to carry on reading. There are revelations, eventually, although these are all condensed into a small chunk of the novel.
An interesting premise, some fresh character elements but it didn't really live up to its potential for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo
1966, Reeta wakes up in hospital with no memory of her identity, her past or the multiple murders she is about to be accused of.
She knows nobody except for Carol, an investigative journalist determined to uncover the truth. The strands of the novel reveal the snippets that Carol's research can uncover and fragments from Reeta's life.
It's a very interesting premise, and I had high hopes. I like the idea of an amnesiac character, but the book didn't really work for me as a crime thriller. I felt like it was more like a scrapbook of character snippets and events.
I found it fairly slow and lacking tension or momentum, but it kept me interested enough to carry on reading. There are revelations, eventually, although these are all condensed into a small chunk of the novel.
An interesting premise, some fresh character elements but it didn't really live up to its potential for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo
April 25, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a wild ride! This was an incredibly unique and twisty debut. The fantastic prose, short chapters, alternating POVs, and suspense-filled plot had me flying through the pages.
The only reason I’m not rating this higher is because I personally don’t love mixing religion, especially religious cults, with my thrillers. That being said, by the time it was introduced I was so invested in the plot I had to finish!
The ending left me a little confused and I ended up reading the last 20 or so pages twice to make sure I understood what the heck was going on. I have a feeling the author intended to leave some pieces up to interpretation which I don’t think was a bad choice.
The only reason I’m not rating this higher is because I personally don’t love mixing religion, especially religious cults, with my thrillers. That being said, by the time it was introduced I was so invested in the plot I had to finish!
The ending left me a little confused and I ended up reading the last 20 or so pages twice to make sure I understood what the heck was going on. I have a feeling the author intended to leave some pieces up to interpretation which I don’t think was a bad choice.
November 29, 2022
a good story written badly with a very ambiguous ending... i felt having got that far through some very poor writing - needed better editing - we deserved a clearer outcome. The plot was clever and characters interesting, the time and issues thoughtful but some of the actual prose was poor long winded.
November 20, 2022
What a fantastic debut! I'll be waiting for more from this author. 4.5 ⭐️
SYNOPSIS:
"It ends with a car crash. Two women, both maimed, their long blonde hair matted with blood.
It begins with waking up, in an unfamiliar hospital bed. Bright lights, nurses – and handcuffs.
She is told her name is Reeta Doe, and that she’s been in an accident. That she’s in Florida. That the FBI have been following her since Mississippi. That she has brutally murdered two women. College girls, who look just like her. Two more are missing, and one survived.
Reeta recalls nothing. She cannot answer the questions; all the things they want her to explain are no more familiar to her than the prison she is taken to. Her only hope is a journalist named Carol, who can follow the trail of devastation Reeta left in her wake.
All the way back to Pine Ranch, and the only family she ever knew."
MY THOUGHTS:
- The premise of this book was captivating and it grabbed me from the very start.
- Set in the 60s-70s this crime thriller not only deals with this devasting crime and its culprit but also feminism and racism during this era. This era also made the dubiety over identity so plausible.
- I didn't know what to expect from this book, but it was enthralling, the present and past timelines, the short chapters, and a fabulously written main character in Reeta.
- I loved the cult/sect storyline, I always find this a fascinating trope.
- Dark, mysterious, thrilling, twisted with an utterly compelling storyline.
- The twists I NEVER saw coming and the ending - wooaaaahhh!
**Thanks to Canelo Crime and Tandem Collective for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review**
SYNOPSIS:
"It ends with a car crash. Two women, both maimed, their long blonde hair matted with blood.
It begins with waking up, in an unfamiliar hospital bed. Bright lights, nurses – and handcuffs.
She is told her name is Reeta Doe, and that she’s been in an accident. That she’s in Florida. That the FBI have been following her since Mississippi. That she has brutally murdered two women. College girls, who look just like her. Two more are missing, and one survived.
Reeta recalls nothing. She cannot answer the questions; all the things they want her to explain are no more familiar to her than the prison she is taken to. Her only hope is a journalist named Carol, who can follow the trail of devastation Reeta left in her wake.
All the way back to Pine Ranch, and the only family she ever knew."
MY THOUGHTS:
- The premise of this book was captivating and it grabbed me from the very start.
- Set in the 60s-70s this crime thriller not only deals with this devasting crime and its culprit but also feminism and racism during this era. This era also made the dubiety over identity so plausible.
- I didn't know what to expect from this book, but it was enthralling, the present and past timelines, the short chapters, and a fabulously written main character in Reeta.
- I loved the cult/sect storyline, I always find this a fascinating trope.
- Dark, mysterious, thrilling, twisted with an utterly compelling storyline.
- The twists I NEVER saw coming and the ending - wooaaaahhh!
**Thanks to Canelo Crime and Tandem Collective for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review**
April 10, 2022
Imagine waking up in a hospital bed, battered and scarred, not knowing who you are or how you got there. As you slowly become more alert, you realize you are handcuffed to the bedrail. No one seems to care that you can't remember a thing or to be forthcoming with any information. They seem to believe that you are lying about your conditions and can't wait until you are well enough to be released and will have to pay for your crimes.
What! Talk about a nightmarish situation, especially when FBI agents arrive and tell you that you are a serial killer. Hard to imagine not being scared out of your mind. With no memory and no family or friends to help you, it looks as if prison is the only thing ahead. Reeta Doe is a woman with no past and no future, but is she a victim or a cold-blooded killer?
I really enjoyed this debut. I was pulled into the story on the first page and the plot never let me go. I went back and forth about how I felt about Reeta and her situation, and holy mind-blowing ending that I did not see coming. This author is now on my watch for the next book list as After Everything You Did was one cray cray ride.
What! Talk about a nightmarish situation, especially when FBI agents arrive and tell you that you are a serial killer. Hard to imagine not being scared out of your mind. With no memory and no family or friends to help you, it looks as if prison is the only thing ahead. Reeta Doe is a woman with no past and no future, but is she a victim or a cold-blooded killer?
I really enjoyed this debut. I was pulled into the story on the first page and the plot never let me go. I went back and forth about how I felt about Reeta and her situation, and holy mind-blowing ending that I did not see coming. This author is now on my watch for the next book list as After Everything You Did was one cray cray ride.
January 10, 2024
I really thought I had this one figured out. I didn’t. Author does a great job pulling you along the journey of a girls life.
June 14, 2025
Why did i actually read this? I kept reading to see if it would get better and make sense, i should of dnf'ed! The back and forth didn't make you understand the storyline and the ending was terrible and confusing.
March 25, 2022
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.
This is an intriguing story, well-written with good characters; it's reasonably fast-paced but I did find some of the narrative to be rather repetitive. Overall I enjoyed reading it.
Two blonde-haired young women wake up in hospital: one is handcuffed to the bed's railing, she's treated harshly by staff but has no memory of any life before that moment, although she's told her name is Reeta. She'd been driving when her car crashed in Florida. The other young woman, Bonnie, was found in the trunk of the car suffering from head injuries. Despite having no memories Reeta's told she's responsible for the deaths of four female students across five Southern States and the FBI agents want the location of two bodies yet to be found. Bonnie was her latest victim.
The narrative gradually builds up the picture of Reeta's past life, as well as the FBI's attempts at releasing her memories; she can't believe she'd be capable of carrying out such brutal murders, but then again - how would she know?
Now............enough said or I'll risk spoilers. Suffice it to say that there are shocking aspects to this story as well as a major twist.
Well worth reading.
This is an intriguing story, well-written with good characters; it's reasonably fast-paced but I did find some of the narrative to be rather repetitive. Overall I enjoyed reading it.
Two blonde-haired young women wake up in hospital: one is handcuffed to the bed's railing, she's treated harshly by staff but has no memory of any life before that moment, although she's told her name is Reeta. She'd been driving when her car crashed in Florida. The other young woman, Bonnie, was found in the trunk of the car suffering from head injuries. Despite having no memories Reeta's told she's responsible for the deaths of four female students across five Southern States and the FBI agents want the location of two bodies yet to be found. Bonnie was her latest victim.
The narrative gradually builds up the picture of Reeta's past life, as well as the FBI's attempts at releasing her memories; she can't believe she'd be capable of carrying out such brutal murders, but then again - how would she know?
Now............enough said or I'll risk spoilers. Suffice it to say that there are shocking aspects to this story as well as a major twist.
Well worth reading.
October 11, 2022
Solid. Interesting.
Other than the writer being someone obviously not born in the states (you can see UK easily)!
Other than the writer being someone obviously not born in the states (you can see UK easily)!
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