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Like It Never Happened
Decades ago, four friends concealed a deadly secret–but not all lies stay buried in this psychological suspense.
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.
When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.
When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2024
16 people are currently reading
4250 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Hoffmann
3 books172 followersJeff Hoffmann was born and raised in St. Louis and received an MFA in fiction from Columbia College Chicago. Hoffmann’s writing has appeared in Barely South Review, The Sun, Harpur Palate, The Roanoke Review, Booth, The Baltimore Review, and Lunch Ticket. Hoffmann is the winner of the Madison Review’s 2018 Chris O’Malley Prize in Fiction and a finalist for the Missouri Review’s 2019 Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize. He lives in Elmhurst, IL, with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 6, 2024
I listened to the audiobook for this one and I did think he narrator did a good job with the main characters (I didn’t love the job he did with the female voices, but it wasn’t bad). This is a book that felt like all the build up without the explosion or climax I wanted. It was a book that kept my attention and I did want to finish it, but I didn’t care about the outcomes and I didn’t like a single character. I suppose it’s very honest to write a book of morally grey (although some very dark grey) because no one is pure anything, but this book was almost exhausting in how toxic and awful every single person was. The premise was very interesting - four friends were involved in a fight when they were all 18 and the other boys one died and one had horrific brain damage and has lived out his life in a care home. The four friends weren’t caught and swore never to talk about it again. This led to them drifting apart. When one of the men dies the other three attend his funeral and meet his wife who is a reporter and seems to know everything. I liked that you did see the story from multiple perspectives and again the story wasn’t uninteresting.
March 8, 2024
Narrated by Noah Michael Levine.
Less a thriller, more 'three straight white guys have a tough time because they were assholes as kids'.
I wanted this to be much more than it was.
The story centres around an incident, in a parking lot decades ago, that had 'deadly consequences'. From the get go, it's pretty obvious what the incident was and so any kind of tension that was supposed to be built on that, wasn't. The four boys hushed it all up for very thin reasons and decades later are faced with further consequences initiated by the death of one of them.
These are married men with troubled marriages, and for the most part the incident had nothing to do with that. The men are mostly just self-centred assholes, so it was a bit hard to find sympathy for them. The women are ball-busting go-getters with no time for their husbands' dramas.
Basically, I hated all of these characters.
There's supposed to be a thriller element from Naomi, wife of the deceased, because she's on a mission now to 'make them pay.' But she's just a journalist threatening them with the truth so it's pretty bland as far as thrillers go.
Mostly, the story is about how these three men regret the dumb thing they did but refuse to come clean because it will ruin lives they've already kind of ruined anyway.
Zero sympathy for any of these characters.
Narration was okay, but I didn't love the female voices. For some reason, men doing female voices sound so much more fake to me than women doing male voices. Aside from that, narration was fine. I was happy to listen to this at x1.5 speed so mercifully free of long pauses and dramatic slowness.
Can't say I'd recommend this one. Maybe if you're into family drama and broken marriages? But as a thriller it misses the mark.
With thanks to Netgalley for an audio ARC
Less a thriller, more 'three straight white guys have a tough time because they were assholes as kids'.
I wanted this to be much more than it was.
The story centres around an incident, in a parking lot decades ago, that had 'deadly consequences'. From the get go, it's pretty obvious what the incident was and so any kind of tension that was supposed to be built on that, wasn't. The four boys hushed it all up for very thin reasons and decades later are faced with further consequences initiated by the death of one of them.
These are married men with troubled marriages, and for the most part the incident had nothing to do with that. The men are mostly just self-centred assholes, so it was a bit hard to find sympathy for them. The women are ball-busting go-getters with no time for their husbands' dramas.
Basically, I hated all of these characters.
There's supposed to be a thriller element from Naomi, wife of the deceased, because she's on a mission now to 'make them pay.' But she's just a journalist threatening them with the truth so it's pretty bland as far as thrillers go.
Mostly, the story is about how these three men regret the dumb thing they did but refuse to come clean because it will ruin lives they've already kind of ruined anyway.
Zero sympathy for any of these characters.
Narration was okay, but I didn't love the female voices. For some reason, men doing female voices sound so much more fake to me than women doing male voices. Aside from that, narration was fine. I was happy to listen to this at x1.5 speed so mercifully free of long pauses and dramatic slowness.
Can't say I'd recommend this one. Maybe if you're into family drama and broken marriages? But as a thriller it misses the mark.
With thanks to Netgalley for an audio ARC
January 9, 2024
This is one of those books that didn’t particularly entertain me, and I didn’t really enjoy reading, yet I still did. I’m not sure why, probably stubbornness, but I did. I wanted to know the secret, which, kudos to the author for creating that type of environment. The journey to get there wasn’t a fun one for me though.
I didn’t like any of the characters. I don’t usually need to, but I can be good at finding something, anything, to like. That wasn’t really the case here. All of the men in this book sucked. It was like a book about toxic men and not in a fun way. When they were younger, the four of them got into a fight and a kid died, and another ended up in a care home. Of course, they didn’t get in trouble, and they vowed to never talk about it. That never quite works out, and one of them told their wife, so when they die, the wife decides to black mail the other men. Sounds intriguing, but the execution was lacking for me. While the writing was good, I found the characters to be surface level and lacking in depth, therefore I didn’t care about them. I also find it infuriating that scenarios like this occur and I believe that people should have to face consequences for their actions, teenagers or not, and I found the characters to be privileged and whiny.
I think that this could have been a great story, but it wasn’t the story for me. Not every story is going to click for every reader and that is the case here.
2.5 stars rounded to 3.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t like any of the characters. I don’t usually need to, but I can be good at finding something, anything, to like. That wasn’t really the case here. All of the men in this book sucked. It was like a book about toxic men and not in a fun way. When they were younger, the four of them got into a fight and a kid died, and another ended up in a care home. Of course, they didn’t get in trouble, and they vowed to never talk about it. That never quite works out, and one of them told their wife, so when they die, the wife decides to black mail the other men. Sounds intriguing, but the execution was lacking for me. While the writing was good, I found the characters to be surface level and lacking in depth, therefore I didn’t care about them. I also find it infuriating that scenarios like this occur and I believe that people should have to face consequences for their actions, teenagers or not, and I found the characters to be privileged and whiny.
I think that this could have been a great story, but it wasn’t the story for me. Not every story is going to click for every reader and that is the case here.
2.5 stars rounded to 3.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2024
‘Like It Never Happened’ by Jeff Hoffman explores how suppressing past actions and secrets can permanently alter lives and leave the most innocent to pay the price.
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends with a brotherly bond that would never be broken until one tragic night, they did something terrible. This secret night disbanded their group, and they committed to acting like it never happened. Everything changes when they are brought back together for Kevin’s funeral, where Naomi, Kevin’s wife, and reporter, seeks revenge for how that night cost her husband’s life. We see how Naomi’s commitment to revenge reopens old wounds and tests the ways we hold those accountable.
Jeff’s writing style is one of my favorites. He knows how to keep you in suspense while giving you breadcrumbs so you enjoy the journey to the conclusion. Through the story, we explore grief, guilt, redemption, and conflicts in marriages, families, and friendships.
While I love an engaging plot, what connects me to stories are the characters and I was so invested in all the character’s storylines. The switches in POV worked so well and every character and scene served a purpose. Each of the men took different paths to suppress the night but it was interesting to see how they were all in the same position — facing turmoil in their own family/marriages. I was honestly more intrigued by their current lives than the mysterious night!
“The wives always suffer the most” - whew, this could not be more true. The wives were my favorite to follow. They all represented the different stages and positions a marriage can find itself in and I empathized with every single one! Jeff wrote from a woman’s perspective so well 👏🏾
I am always intrigued by the ways relationships navigate the reveal of secrets. Some rebuild, some separate, and some are still to be determined. Holding those accountable can be a double-edged sword. This was a great character study with a cathartic ending.
I was invested til the very end! This is perfect for those who enjoy suspenseful character-driven stories.
Thank you so much for the copy in exchange for my honest review!
4.25⭐️
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends with a brotherly bond that would never be broken until one tragic night, they did something terrible. This secret night disbanded their group, and they committed to acting like it never happened. Everything changes when they are brought back together for Kevin’s funeral, where Naomi, Kevin’s wife, and reporter, seeks revenge for how that night cost her husband’s life. We see how Naomi’s commitment to revenge reopens old wounds and tests the ways we hold those accountable.
Jeff’s writing style is one of my favorites. He knows how to keep you in suspense while giving you breadcrumbs so you enjoy the journey to the conclusion. Through the story, we explore grief, guilt, redemption, and conflicts in marriages, families, and friendships.
While I love an engaging plot, what connects me to stories are the characters and I was so invested in all the character’s storylines. The switches in POV worked so well and every character and scene served a purpose. Each of the men took different paths to suppress the night but it was interesting to see how they were all in the same position — facing turmoil in their own family/marriages. I was honestly more intrigued by their current lives than the mysterious night!
“The wives always suffer the most” - whew, this could not be more true. The wives were my favorite to follow. They all represented the different stages and positions a marriage can find itself in and I empathized with every single one! Jeff wrote from a woman’s perspective so well 👏🏾
I am always intrigued by the ways relationships navigate the reveal of secrets. Some rebuild, some separate, and some are still to be determined. Holding those accountable can be a double-edged sword. This was a great character study with a cathartic ending.
I was invested til the very end! This is perfect for those who enjoy suspenseful character-driven stories.
Thank you so much for the copy in exchange for my honest review!
4.25⭐️
December 19, 2024
I'm sad to say that this book was not for me. I felt lost and confused for most of the book. I started counting and there are 19 or 20 different characters. Aside from the 4 main characters, there are the wives or ex, the children, the children's boyfriends, the colleagues, the victims, the victims' parents and I don't remember. Most of the time I didn't even know who I was reading about. I kept on reading hoping the end/secret/motive that pushed that wife to do what she did to be shocking/twisty, but it fell a bit short for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
October 29, 2023
3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
A group of four friends are confronted with a fight in the parking lot of a Burger King, which ends with the death of one of the opponents and the other under special care. After 30 years, these friends, separated by that tragedy, are reunited for the funeral of one of the 4, where they realize that the wife knows their great secret, and is not willing to hide it anymore. The book keeps you attentive and entertained, learning about the family history of each of the friends, which has been affected by their remorse over the years. While the book didn't have anything particularly spectacular or jaw-dropping, it kept me entertained and interested in each story. I enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
A group of four friends are confronted with a fight in the parking lot of a Burger King, which ends with the death of one of the opponents and the other under special care. After 30 years, these friends, separated by that tragedy, are reunited for the funeral of one of the 4, where they realize that the wife knows their great secret, and is not willing to hide it anymore. The book keeps you attentive and entertained, learning about the family history of each of the friends, which has been affected by their remorse over the years. While the book didn't have anything particularly spectacular or jaw-dropping, it kept me entertained and interested in each story. I enjoyed it.
March 1, 2024
3 stars
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this title for review consideration.
I don’t really do well when there’s a lot of characters. Especially when all of them are so similar and so unlikable. My brain handles it even worse when it’s audio. Needless to say, this book is full of similarly unlikeable characters (the main 3 to be specific). However, besides the main 3 MMCs and FMC there is around 15-20 side characters (wives, exs, children, children’s partners, coworkers, parents, etc) that make this book so confusing and hard to keep straight (for me). Especially in audio format.
We spend the whole book knowing SOMETHING went down in the BK parking lot, but not really knowing exactly what. The entire book leads up to it and, honestly? I think it was over built cause I thought it was a little let down. So much potential for this book to be non stop riveting and dramatic, but I just felt meh at the end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this title for review consideration.
I don’t really do well when there’s a lot of characters. Especially when all of them are so similar and so unlikable. My brain handles it even worse when it’s audio. Needless to say, this book is full of similarly unlikeable characters (the main 3 to be specific). However, besides the main 3 MMCs and FMC there is around 15-20 side characters (wives, exs, children, children’s partners, coworkers, parents, etc) that make this book so confusing and hard to keep straight (for me). Especially in audio format.
We spend the whole book knowing SOMETHING went down in the BK parking lot, but not really knowing exactly what. The entire book leads up to it and, honestly? I think it was over built cause I thought it was a little let down. So much potential for this book to be non stop riveting and dramatic, but I just felt meh at the end.
March 6, 2024
You heard it here first...
Like It Never Happened, will be the "Book of the Year"
If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be, captivating. There was not even a milisecond of my eyes not on the pages and my soul consumed with the words that flowed through the pages.
I am in complete awe.
Thrilling.Intense.All-Consuming.
You will never read a book like this again.
This book is everything you could have hoped for and more. As soon as I concluded, I needed to do my research. Why have I not heard of Jeff Hoffman, before? Do not fret my friends, this is his second novel so we only missed the first, and I know YOU know, what I will be doing this evening.
Check out this teaser :
Decades ago, four friends concealed a deadly secret–but not all lies stay buried in this psychological suspense for fans of Ashley Winstead and Alison Gaylin.
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.
When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
Like It Never Happened, will be the "Book of the Year"
If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be, captivating. There was not even a milisecond of my eyes not on the pages and my soul consumed with the words that flowed through the pages.
I am in complete awe.
Thrilling.Intense.All-Consuming.
You will never read a book like this again.
This book is everything you could have hoped for and more. As soon as I concluded, I needed to do my research. Why have I not heard of Jeff Hoffman, before? Do not fret my friends, this is his second novel so we only missed the first, and I know YOU know, what I will be doing this evening.
Check out this teaser :
Decades ago, four friends concealed a deadly secret–but not all lies stay buried in this psychological suspense for fans of Ashley Winstead and Alison Gaylin.
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.
When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
February 24, 2024
Like It Never Happened by Jeff Hoffman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I mostly kept with this one because the reader is enticed to continue to find out what this horrible thing they did in the past actually was. It’s referenced so much and the plot is based around it, but we don’t actually know the full story until the end. I was really expecting more to it. I did enjoy the story mostly for the characters and their current lives; how their marriages, relationships, and careers worked and how they were affected by this past event.
“It was always with them, like a shadow on a sunny afternoon. It was a heavy pressure leaning against everything. Like a tumor.”
Like It Never Happened comes out 3/5.
I mostly kept with this one because the reader is enticed to continue to find out what this horrible thing they did in the past actually was. It’s referenced so much and the plot is based around it, but we don’t actually know the full story until the end. I was really expecting more to it. I did enjoy the story mostly for the characters and their current lives; how their marriages, relationships, and careers worked and how they were affected by this past event.
“It was always with them, like a shadow on a sunny afternoon. It was a heavy pressure leaning against everything. Like a tumor.”
Like It Never Happened comes out 3/5.
July 8, 2024
The writing is quite good, so I was excited, but there are way too many characters crammed into too little space, which makes the novel somewhat suffocating. Good effort though.
March 16, 2024
Title:
Like It Never Happened
Author: Jeff Hoffmann
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Straightforward • Mysterious • Anticlimactic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.
When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After being introduced to Jeff Hoffmann's debut, Other People's Children, through a now-defunct book box, I was thrilled to see he had a new release coming out in 2024. It's certainly very different from his first book, but it still gave me a lot to think about.
While the cover design had me believing this was going to be a thriller, it's more of a mystery with an element of suspense than anything else. There is much greater detail and backstory for each of the men than what a thriller would offer. The writing flowed nicely and explored the intricacies of friendship and the long-term consequences of our actions. Right from the beginning you know the men are holding onto a deep secret that has shaped their entire lives, and the narrative slowly delivers little pieces of the puzzle. Each of the men is morally grey and I didn't like any of them or know who I could trust.
The audiobook, narrated by Noah Michael Levine, added an additional level of intensity to my suspicion. It's worth mentioning that I did need to speed it up as I never would have been able to make it through the normal speed, which was very drawn out and flat. The male perspectives were well done, however, the female perspectives could have used some improvement. Lastly, given there are quite a few characters, at times I had a hard time distinguishing between each one while listening, so I was glad to have the digital copy to read along with as it helped with keeping track of everyone.
Unfortunately, this wasn't as good was I was hoping. There was a lot of building up to what felt like a very anticlimactic reveal. It certainly left me wanting so much more. With that said, I will continue to explore Jeff Hoffmann's future work, simply because his first two books were so vastly different.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers of domestic drama
⚠️ CW: death, grief, car accident, violence, murder, mental illness, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, overdose, toxic relationship
Author: Jeff Hoffmann
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Straightforward • Mysterious • Anticlimactic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.
When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After being introduced to Jeff Hoffmann's debut, Other People's Children, through a now-defunct book box, I was thrilled to see he had a new release coming out in 2024. It's certainly very different from his first book, but it still gave me a lot to think about.
While the cover design had me believing this was going to be a thriller, it's more of a mystery with an element of suspense than anything else. There is much greater detail and backstory for each of the men than what a thriller would offer. The writing flowed nicely and explored the intricacies of friendship and the long-term consequences of our actions. Right from the beginning you know the men are holding onto a deep secret that has shaped their entire lives, and the narrative slowly delivers little pieces of the puzzle. Each of the men is morally grey and I didn't like any of them or know who I could trust.
The audiobook, narrated by Noah Michael Levine, added an additional level of intensity to my suspicion. It's worth mentioning that I did need to speed it up as I never would have been able to make it through the normal speed, which was very drawn out and flat. The male perspectives were well done, however, the female perspectives could have used some improvement. Lastly, given there are quite a few characters, at times I had a hard time distinguishing between each one while listening, so I was glad to have the digital copy to read along with as it helped with keeping track of everyone.
Unfortunately, this wasn't as good was I was hoping. There was a lot of building up to what felt like a very anticlimactic reveal. It certainly left me wanting so much more. With that said, I will continue to explore Jeff Hoffmann's future work, simply because his first two books were so vastly different.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers of domestic drama
⚠️ CW: death, grief, car accident, violence, murder, mental illness, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, overdose, toxic relationship
March 2, 2024
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends, almost like brothers. Then one night they did something terrible that changed everything. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral. When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there. After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
I really enjoyed this author's previous book, so I was excited about this newest one. Unfortunately, it fell a little short of expectations for me. None of the characters were likeable and that is always a deal breaker for me......I need someone to root for. I get that what they did thirty years ago was wrong on so many levels, but they have had decades to atone and make themselves into better versions of themselves. Also, it drove me crazy that for most of the book, I didn't know exactly what happened. It just kept being referenced to "what happened in the Burger King parking lot" , and that repetition with no added context gave me the twitches. However, I held out because I wanted to know the secret, and I wanted to see how it was all going to play out. So, am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I recommend it? I would have to say I am on the fence on this one. It wasn't a bad book, just not one of the best I have read or listened to. So I will leave that to you to decide.
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends, almost like brothers. Then one night they did something terrible that changed everything. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral. When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there. After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
I really enjoyed this author's previous book, so I was excited about this newest one. Unfortunately, it fell a little short of expectations for me. None of the characters were likeable and that is always a deal breaker for me......I need someone to root for. I get that what they did thirty years ago was wrong on so many levels, but they have had decades to atone and make themselves into better versions of themselves. Also, it drove me crazy that for most of the book, I didn't know exactly what happened. It just kept being referenced to "what happened in the Burger King parking lot" , and that repetition with no added context gave me the twitches. However, I held out because I wanted to know the secret, and I wanted to see how it was all going to play out. So, am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I recommend it? I would have to say I am on the fence on this one. It wasn't a bad book, just not one of the best I have read or listened to. So I will leave that to you to decide.
October 3, 2023
In a culture where too much aggressive male behaviour is written off as simply a case of "boys will be boys", sometimes men are left paying for the sins or trauma of boyhood decades after the event.
That is precisely the case with the four men in this story - Kevin, Tommy, Henry and Malcolm - who did something terrible nearly three decades ago, when they were young boys. A fight they got into with two others at a fast food joint resulted in death for one of that duo, and disability for the other. The four friends made a pact never to tell the truth of what they did that day.
Now, so many years later, the three survivors meet at their friend Kevin's funeral only to discover that his wife Naomi knows the truth of that tragic incident. Since Naomi is a reporter, Tommy, Henry, and Malcolm are terrified at the idea of what she could do with the information. Though what she actually has in mind is a little unorthodox...
Because Naomi has watched her husband struggle in the aftermath of the violence of that day, and is determined to make the trio pay for their part in it. But with so much to lose, will the men allow her to simply go ahead with whatever she has in mind?
This is quite a hard-hitting story about secrets, lies and cultural attitudes to testosterone-fuelled folly that can lead to serious consequences for supposedly typical "boyish" shenanigans. Overall, the story is both suspenseful and interesting, and the book establishes and retains a hold on the reader's attention quite successfully.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
That is precisely the case with the four men in this story - Kevin, Tommy, Henry and Malcolm - who did something terrible nearly three decades ago, when they were young boys. A fight they got into with two others at a fast food joint resulted in death for one of that duo, and disability for the other. The four friends made a pact never to tell the truth of what they did that day.
Now, so many years later, the three survivors meet at their friend Kevin's funeral only to discover that his wife Naomi knows the truth of that tragic incident. Since Naomi is a reporter, Tommy, Henry, and Malcolm are terrified at the idea of what she could do with the information. Though what she actually has in mind is a little unorthodox...
Because Naomi has watched her husband struggle in the aftermath of the violence of that day, and is determined to make the trio pay for their part in it. But with so much to lose, will the men allow her to simply go ahead with whatever she has in mind?
This is quite a hard-hitting story about secrets, lies and cultural attitudes to testosterone-fuelled folly that can lead to serious consequences for supposedly typical "boyish" shenanigans. Overall, the story is both suspenseful and interesting, and the book establishes and retains a hold on the reader's attention quite successfully.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
March 3, 2024
When Tommy, Malcolm and Henry go to their old friend Kevin‘s funeral they have no idea when meeting his wife Naomi this will be the beginning of a game of Simon says and Naomi a Simon.
She even makes the three old friends go see the only survivor of that night Terry who although hasn’t spoken in years instantly recognizes the man. It’s not like this is the only thing the guys have going on as a matter of a fact ever since that night all four men have tried to get over it but it seems no one is as affected as the one who wasn’t there Naomi she blames her husbands suicide and drug addiction on that night and she blames that night on the three men they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and eventually Naomi will meet a woman who was not only affected by that night but was there right after it happened and has some pretty choice things to tell vengeful Naomi that may just change her mind. This book was pretty OK at the beginning I wasn’t quite sure where it was going I really believe she just wanted them to make amends but once I saw she was out for revenge it made the book that much better I did think she was delusional for blaming other people for things our husband did regardless of who was around but then again that was a pet peeve of mine to not take responsibility for your own crap. Having said that I still think this was a pretty good book in one I do recommend it’s not exactly a thriller but it definitely is thrilling. I also thought the narrator was the best thing about the book I want to thank the publisher the author and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
She even makes the three old friends go see the only survivor of that night Terry who although hasn’t spoken in years instantly recognizes the man. It’s not like this is the only thing the guys have going on as a matter of a fact ever since that night all four men have tried to get over it but it seems no one is as affected as the one who wasn’t there Naomi she blames her husbands suicide and drug addiction on that night and she blames that night on the three men they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and eventually Naomi will meet a woman who was not only affected by that night but was there right after it happened and has some pretty choice things to tell vengeful Naomi that may just change her mind. This book was pretty OK at the beginning I wasn’t quite sure where it was going I really believe she just wanted them to make amends but once I saw she was out for revenge it made the book that much better I did think she was delusional for blaming other people for things our husband did regardless of who was around but then again that was a pet peeve of mine to not take responsibility for your own crap. Having said that I still think this was a pretty good book in one I do recommend it’s not exactly a thriller but it definitely is thrilling. I also thought the narrator was the best thing about the book I want to thank the publisher the author and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
February 23, 2024
So much potential for drama, but overall a depressing vibe.
Premise - Many years after four teen boys kill another boy in a playground, one of them commits suicide by driving his motorcycle into a truck. His wife blames the other three for making him carry the secret, which she blames for his struggle with addiction and ultimately his suicide, and is determined to seek revenge.
📚 Series or Standalone: standalone
📚 Genre: it’s shelved as thriller, but it should be general fiction because I did not once find myself thrilled
📚 Target Age Group: adult
📚 Cliffhanger: no
✨ Will I Reread: no
✨ Recommended For: fans of ‘Hello Beautiful’ and empathizing with self-involved, self-pitying men
💕 Characters: 3/5, believable but flat. While the men are all pathetic (and I really enjoy a good unlikeable character) it’s in a way that isn’t any fun. For example, not telling his wife he contracted HIV from having an affair (!) and not using a condom (!!!) for an entire MONTH, putting her at so much risk. Just wanted to yeet the man out of the nearest window, but not in a cute, fun way.
💕 Writing: 3/5, very competent, but somehow dry and unemotional.
💕 Plot: 3/5, so much potential, but in the end I didn’t care.
💕 Pacing: 3/5, even throughout but too slow for a thriller.
💕 Unputdownability: 2/5
💕 Enjoyment: 2/5
💕 Book Cover: 3/5, intriguing
Thanks, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - Many years after four teen boys kill another boy in a playground, one of them commits suicide by driving his motorcycle into a truck. His wife blames the other three for making him carry the secret, which she blames for his struggle with addiction and ultimately his suicide, and is determined to seek revenge.
📚 Series or Standalone: standalone
📚 Genre: it’s shelved as thriller, but it should be general fiction because I did not once find myself thrilled
📚 Target Age Group: adult
📚 Cliffhanger: no
✨ Will I Reread: no
✨ Recommended For: fans of ‘Hello Beautiful’ and empathizing with self-involved, self-pitying men
💕 Characters: 3/5, believable but flat. While the men are all pathetic (and I really enjoy a good unlikeable character) it’s in a way that isn’t any fun. For example, not telling his wife he contracted HIV from having an affair (!) and not using a condom (!!!) for an entire MONTH, putting her at so much risk. Just wanted to yeet the man out of the nearest window, but not in a cute, fun way.
💕 Writing: 3/5, very competent, but somehow dry and unemotional.
💕 Plot: 3/5, so much potential, but in the end I didn’t care.
💕 Pacing: 3/5, even throughout but too slow for a thriller.
💕 Unputdownability: 2/5
💕 Enjoyment: 2/5
💕 Book Cover: 3/5, intriguing
Thanks, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2024
The title of this book is so appropriate.....read it to find out why.
There is not much I can say about the actual story, because nothing much happens outside of character development. There was this big buildup/mystery that was so anticlimactic. I really thought this book was going to focus on the wife of Kevin doing some twisted blackmailing of the 3 other "brothers" who did something "bad" so many years ago. Instead it was more about how Malcom, Harry and Tommy deal with grief/guilt. It was Hoffman showing us what it means to have a dark secret and the consequences of it,
As I was reading I kept waiting for something big to happen or for the story to take a sharp turn, it never did. Instead we find out about what kind of people these guys have become (and they are not winning any personality awards, well, maybe Tommy.
The pitch to this book promises way more intrigue and suspense than what is actually delivered. This is like ordering a Taco from the Bell thinking you are going to have this robust taco filled with a copious amount of meat, fresh crisp lettuce and juicy vine ripe tomatoes. Instead you get some meat squeezed out of a tube, three shreds of white lettuce, pink crunchy tomatoes......(the only difference between the taco and the book....the taco actually is pretty amazing...)
There is not much I can say about the actual story, because nothing much happens outside of character development. There was this big buildup/mystery that was so anticlimactic. I really thought this book was going to focus on the wife of Kevin doing some twisted blackmailing of the 3 other "brothers" who did something "bad" so many years ago. Instead it was more about how Malcom, Harry and Tommy deal with grief/guilt. It was Hoffman showing us what it means to have a dark secret and the consequences of it,
As I was reading I kept waiting for something big to happen or for the story to take a sharp turn, it never did. Instead we find out about what kind of people these guys have become (and they are not winning any personality awards, well, maybe Tommy.
The pitch to this book promises way more intrigue and suspense than what is actually delivered. This is like ordering a Taco from the Bell thinking you are going to have this robust taco filled with a copious amount of meat, fresh crisp lettuce and juicy vine ripe tomatoes. Instead you get some meat squeezed out of a tube, three shreds of white lettuce, pink crunchy tomatoes......(the only difference between the taco and the book....the taco actually is pretty amazing...)
February 23, 2024
Like It Never Happened by Jeff Hoffmann and narrated by Noah Michael Levine is absolutely phenomenal. Phen. Om. En. Al. Standing ovation for this thriller.
Noah Michael Levine did a wonderful job at defining the personalities of the characters and his cadence shaped the ambience exactly as it was written
Jeff Hoffman has created an outstanding thriler. The pace is on point, the deflections and redirections are a lbur yet without losing track of the core plot.
Three friends reunite (Tommy, Malcolm and Henry) following the passing of one of their childhood friends, (Kevin) but, they all shared a secret A dark secret from their childhood. Concern grows between the three existing friends as to whether the deceased friend told his wife. The reporter, the secret. Tension grows after meeting the wife (Naomi) at the wake events start to escalate, and spiral slowly, but weightily, increasing in tempo with Naomi at the centre, orchestrating every move
Utterly, utterly brilliant. I could not put it down
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, the author Jeff Hoffman and Narrator Noah Michael Levine for this epic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Noah Michael Levine did a wonderful job at defining the personalities of the characters and his cadence shaped the ambience exactly as it was written
Jeff Hoffman has created an outstanding thriler. The pace is on point, the deflections and redirections are a lbur yet without losing track of the core plot.
Three friends reunite (Tommy, Malcolm and Henry) following the passing of one of their childhood friends, (Kevin) but, they all shared a secret A dark secret from their childhood. Concern grows between the three existing friends as to whether the deceased friend told his wife. The reporter, the secret. Tension grows after meeting the wife (Naomi) at the wake events start to escalate, and spiral slowly, but weightily, increasing in tempo with Naomi at the centre, orchestrating every move
Utterly, utterly brilliant. I could not put it down
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, the author Jeff Hoffman and Narrator Noah Michael Levine for this epic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
March 19, 2024
This book p*ssed me off! Multiple povs and I didnt like anyone.
I wont say more than that because it would spoil it.
I will say the story did keep me interested the entire time.
Publisher's summary
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives.
But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral. When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
Thanks NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of Like it Never Happened!
( I listen to all audiobooks at 1.5. )
Like It Never Happened
By: Jeff Hoffmann
Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release date: 03-05-24
I wont say more than that because it would spoil it.
I will say the story did keep me interested the entire time.
Publisher's summary
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives.
But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral. When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.
Thanks NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of Like it Never Happened!
( I listen to all audiobooks at 1.5. )
Like It Never Happened
By: Jeff Hoffmann
Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release date: 03-05-24
March 12, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I wished I liked this but I didn't. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and it gets really confusing. There is also a lot of unlikeable characters in this book, and while its not necessary that I like them, it does make it easier. I felt like the beginning of the book was very dense with information and character introductions, and it didn't really read as a thriller to me. Thrillers should be exciting, keep me guessing, and have my heart pumping but this didn't do any of those things for me. Not to mention, the twist was very basic. I'm actually a fan of thrillers doing tried and true things with slight twists, not everything needs to be a whole monstrous twisting web, but this particular twist really didn't shock me. It was unlikeable characters doing unlikeable things, even as teenagers.
I did read this as an audio book. I'm not a huge fan of the narration of the female POV chapters and the females in general. I also didn't really feel like I was listening to a book, I felt like I was being talked at instead.
I wished I liked this but I didn't. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and it gets really confusing. There is also a lot of unlikeable characters in this book, and while its not necessary that I like them, it does make it easier. I felt like the beginning of the book was very dense with information and character introductions, and it didn't really read as a thriller to me. Thrillers should be exciting, keep me guessing, and have my heart pumping but this didn't do any of those things for me. Not to mention, the twist was very basic. I'm actually a fan of thrillers doing tried and true things with slight twists, not everything needs to be a whole monstrous twisting web, but this particular twist really didn't shock me. It was unlikeable characters doing unlikeable things, even as teenagers.
I did read this as an audio book. I'm not a huge fan of the narration of the female POV chapters and the females in general. I also didn't really feel like I was listening to a book, I felt like I was being talked at instead.
March 9, 2024
Four best friends hold a secret from their past but the secret rips them apart. When one of the friends, Kevin, passes away, the other 3 hesitantly reconnect. Kevin's wife finds out about the secret and starts blackmailing the 3 friends to come forward.
I found there were some repetitive parts in the beginning that weren't necessary, they didn't add to the story, just repeated what had already been said. Also there was a lot of build up to what happened in their past, but the actual reveal felt anticlimactic considering the buildup. I found it really hard to stay connected to the book, I didn't find it much of a thriller. I felt lost trying to decipher the characters as there were so many outside of the 3 main characters. Plus, for me, none of the characters were likable.
I listened to the audiobook but I didn't love the narration, it felt very monotone to me.
I like the concept of the book, but I don't think it was for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found there were some repetitive parts in the beginning that weren't necessary, they didn't add to the story, just repeated what had already been said. Also there was a lot of build up to what happened in their past, but the actual reveal felt anticlimactic considering the buildup. I found it really hard to stay connected to the book, I didn't find it much of a thriller. I felt lost trying to decipher the characters as there were so many outside of the 3 main characters. Plus, for me, none of the characters were likable.
I listened to the audiobook but I didn't love the narration, it felt very monotone to me.
I like the concept of the book, but I don't think it was for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2024
I just reviewed Like It Never Happened by Jeff Hoffmann. #LikeItNeverHappened #NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
The story surrounds 4 high school friends and a terrible incident that happened one night in a parking lot. After that night, the friends are never the same and carry heavy secrets with them.
30 years after the incident, one of the 4 dies and the contents of the will send the remaining 3 reeling. Their lives will never be the same. Will they make the right decision?
Overall, the premise of the story was what brought me in. However, there are so many characters to keep track of: the 4 friends, their spouses, their children. I also wouldn't classify this as a thriller or mystery. This story is more literary fiction with some suspense. I was hooked on trying to find out the secret.
3.5 stars rounded up.
The story surrounds 4 high school friends and a terrible incident that happened one night in a parking lot. After that night, the friends are never the same and carry heavy secrets with them.
30 years after the incident, one of the 4 dies and the contents of the will send the remaining 3 reeling. Their lives will never be the same. Will they make the right decision?
Overall, the premise of the story was what brought me in. However, there are so many characters to keep track of: the 4 friends, their spouses, their children. I also wouldn't classify this as a thriller or mystery. This story is more literary fiction with some suspense. I was hooked on trying to find out the secret.
March 2, 2024
Cool cover, intriguing title and promising storyline. There were a lot of things done right with this audiobook. I found the plot well thought out and it kept my attention the whole way through. I loved the dual timeline and multiple points of view which made this engaging yet easy to follow. I found some characters easier to connect with than others but overall I thought the cast was diverse and complex without being overdone. I did feel some parts of the story moved a little slow or there could have offered a little more depth to create emotional opportunities. There were a couple parts that appealed more to the emotion of specific characters, and I thought were executed well, but I wished there would have been more. Overall I did enjoy this audiobook!
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and Jeff Hoffman for allowing me advanced access to this audiobook.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and Jeff Hoffman for allowing me advanced access to this audiobook.
March 12, 2024
Like it Never Happened centers on 4 friends living with the ramifications of something done over 30 years ago. While the premise of the story is interesting, I struggled to feel any sort of empathy for the characters…at its center you have 4 white guys who got away with something and are now being held responsible. The narrator was great and the book well written. I wish there was more from the female characters’ perspectives because that was super interesting to me. I liked this book but didn’t love it.
An advanced reader copy audiobook was graciously provided by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
An advanced reader copy audiobook was graciously provided by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
September 17, 2023I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
This book will stir many different emotions in you. What a read!
Four boys get in a fight with to others at Burger King. The fight gets out of control leaving one dead and one in long term care. They run but each boy has the memory of the secret they keep and how it affects their lives.
30 years later the case has not been solved but one of the boys dies and the three go his funeral, His wife knows and she is a reporter. What now? What will she do? What will happen to them?
You won’t want to miss this book!
This book will stir many different emotions in you. What a read!
Four boys get in a fight with to others at Burger King. The fight gets out of control leaving one dead and one in long term care. They run but each boy has the memory of the secret they keep and how it affects their lives.
30 years later the case has not been solved but one of the boys dies and the three go his funeral, His wife knows and she is a reporter. What now? What will she do? What will happen to them?
You won’t want to miss this book!
February 27, 2024
This character driven thriller shows how past events can come back to haunt you, and big secrets can be exposed much easier than they are kept!
Once I had an understanding of the multiple characters in this one, the story was easy to follow and I was intrigued on the shared past that brought this group together.
Overall I found this one to be just okay. I liked how everything came together in the end, but there were no major twists or OMG moments that really sold me on this story.
Thank you so much to Kaye Publicity and @jeffhoffmanwrites for my copy of this book to read and review!
Once I had an understanding of the multiple characters in this one, the story was easy to follow and I was intrigued on the shared past that brought this group together.
Overall I found this one to be just okay. I liked how everything came together in the end, but there were no major twists or OMG moments that really sold me on this story.
Thank you so much to Kaye Publicity and @jeffhoffmanwrites for my copy of this book to read and review!
March 3, 2024
Four adolescent friends, now married and some of them with children, are haunted by actions taken in the past. Their friendship vanishes and is only rekindled when one of them dies. The past comes back biting as the widow has made her life goal to expose what they did. A strong plot with characters that are difficult to like but can be deeply appreciated by their admission of their failures and need to repent and re-establish long-lost family ties.
I thank Mr. Hoffmann, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
I thank Mr. Hoffmann, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 12, 2024
The story is in the layers, not necessarily in the onion itself! What happened years ago has done long range damage that no one has escaped, and the invoices have just arrived in the mail. Reminded me of a Robert Altman film--what happens and how each character's interpretation is distorted by self preservation vs. moral accountability. Characters were dimensional and real, digging past the surface-level black and white -- everyone is on the grayscale. Particularly appreciate the not-so-tidy ending...like real life, the epilog isn't always available.
February 27, 2024
This was an entertaining listen (audiobook). Seeing how one event when they were in high school changed their lives and how they slowly crumbled feeling guilty and coming clean. It was a slow paced listen no ah-ha moments just everything unfolding till one of them turned themselves in taking one for the group. Then coming back together in the end after losing touch for many years. I enjoyed this one for sure.
Thank you, NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this one.
Thank you, NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this one.
March 10, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC audiobook.
The lives of former best friends go awry individually when their past shared crime begins to come to light.
Although they may be willing to pretend the past didn't happen, someone won't let the old times & crimes die.
.
I listened to the audio version, the narrator was a great match for the story and helped ramp up the emotions and action.
Well-written and well-paced mystery that keeps you reading.
The lives of former best friends go awry individually when their past shared crime begins to come to light.
Although they may be willing to pretend the past didn't happen, someone won't let the old times & crimes die.
.
I listened to the audio version, the narrator was a great match for the story and helped ramp up the emotions and action.
Well-written and well-paced mystery that keeps you reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews