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What Never Happened
12 hours, 34 minutes
Colette “Coco” Weber has relocated to her Catalina Island home, where, twenty years before, she was the sole survivor of a deadly home invasion. All Coco wants is to see her aunt Gwen, get as far away from her ex as possible, and get back to her craft—writing obituaries. Thankfully, her college best friend, Maddy, owns the local paper and has a job sure to keep Coco busy, considering the number of elderly folks who are dying on the island.
But as Coco learns more about these deaths, she quickly realizes that the circumstances surrounding them are remarkably similar…and not natural. Then Coco receives a sinister threat in the mail: her own obituary.
As Coco begins to draw connections between a serial killer’s crimes and her own family tragedy, she fears that the secrets on Catalina Island might be too deep to survive. Because whoever is watching her is hell-bent on finally putting her past to rest.
Colette “Coco” Weber has relocated to her Catalina Island home, where, twenty years before, she was the sole survivor of a deadly home invasion. All Coco wants is to see her aunt Gwen, get as far away from her ex as possible, and get back to her craft—writing obituaries. Thankfully, her college best friend, Maddy, owns the local paper and has a job sure to keep Coco busy, considering the number of elderly folks who are dying on the island.
But as Coco learns more about these deaths, she quickly realizes that the circumstances surrounding them are remarkably similar…and not natural. Then Coco receives a sinister threat in the mail: her own obituary.
As Coco begins to draw connections between a serial killer’s crimes and her own family tragedy, she fears that the secrets on Catalina Island might be too deep to survive. Because whoever is watching her is hell-bent on finally putting her past to rest.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 1, 2023
17105 people are currently reading
31683 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Howzell Hall
34 books2,469 followersRACHEL HOWZELL HALL l is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Her next thriller, These Toxic Things, out in September 2021, recently received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, calling the novel ‘cleverly-plotted’ and ‘a refreshing take on the serial killer theme.’
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com
Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com
Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,779 reviews
August 1, 2023
2.5 stars
This starts off with one heck of a bang and so your expectations are high and then dashed. It’s too long, the pace is slow as well as it becoming confusing and muddled. It’s too much of a hard slog to be enjoyable which is such as shame as the premise is good.
Amazon Prime First Read - July ‘23.
This starts off with one heck of a bang and so your expectations are high and then dashed. It’s too long, the pace is slow as well as it becoming confusing and muddled. It’s too much of a hard slog to be enjoyable which is such as shame as the premise is good.
Amazon Prime First Read - July ‘23.
July 30, 2023
Not for me......
Colette “Coco” Weber was the sole survivor of a home invasion that took the lives of her parents and brother. It has been twenty years and she has returned to her Catalina Island home to see her aunt Gwen (after her ex has left her). Coco writes obituaries and her friend Maddy has a job for her at the local paper. She will keep busy as many elderly residents are dying on the island.
Catalina is a small island with BIG secrets. Will Coco ever learn the secret surrounding the home invasion which took the lives of those in her immediate family????
The premise of this book sounded interesting to me. A survivor of a horrible crime comes home again. More deaths are occurring on the island. But unfortunately, this was not the book for me. This is a slow burn and I struggle with slow burns. I found myself uninterested for large parts of the book. Others are enjoying this book so please read their reviews as well.
The beginning of this book instantly grabbed me as did the initial chapters but as I kept reading, I had difficulty connecting to the characters and the storyline. I found most of the characters to be unlikeable, but I did enjoy Coco and her thoughts. But she also annoyed me with some of the decisions she made. Once the reveal occurred, I was mainly glad the whole thing was over.
Again, not for me.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Colette “Coco” Weber was the sole survivor of a home invasion that took the lives of her parents and brother. It has been twenty years and she has returned to her Catalina Island home to see her aunt Gwen (after her ex has left her). Coco writes obituaries and her friend Maddy has a job for her at the local paper. She will keep busy as many elderly residents are dying on the island.
Catalina is a small island with BIG secrets. Will Coco ever learn the secret surrounding the home invasion which took the lives of those in her immediate family????
The premise of this book sounded interesting to me. A survivor of a horrible crime comes home again. More deaths are occurring on the island. But unfortunately, this was not the book for me. This is a slow burn and I struggle with slow burns. I found myself uninterested for large parts of the book. Others are enjoying this book so please read their reviews as well.
The beginning of this book instantly grabbed me as did the initial chapters but as I kept reading, I had difficulty connecting to the characters and the storyline. I found most of the characters to be unlikeable, but I did enjoy Coco and her thoughts. But she also annoyed me with some of the decisions she made. Once the reveal occurred, I was mainly glad the whole thing was over.
Again, not for me.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 13, 2023
Murder in paradise, you say?
I’ve read a few books from this author and, while not my favorite, I really enjoyed What Never Happened! The pacing is a bit of a slow burn for the first half, but if you can stick with it, the plot is complex and the ending did manage to surprise me. Please note there is the inclusion of Covid in the story, as the early days and onset might be triggering for some. I found it cleverly used as a way to insert a claustrophobic sense on the island as the story continues on. If you’re looking for a unique read, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
I’ve read a few books from this author and, while not my favorite, I really enjoyed What Never Happened! The pacing is a bit of a slow burn for the first half, but if you can stick with it, the plot is complex and the ending did manage to surprise me. Please note there is the inclusion of Covid in the story, as the early days and onset might be triggering for some. I found it cleverly used as a way to insert a claustrophobic sense on the island as the story continues on. If you’re looking for a unique read, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
October 21, 2023
I just really did not like this book at all. I was just absolutely bored.
You know when you had to write an essay that had a required word count so you just talked in circles to fill it up? That is what this whole book felt like.
It started off interesting and then it felt like Colette, the main character, was just thinking and doing the same things over and over. I was so bored for the middle part that I started skimming through it. Even with murders going on, it bored me. How does that happen?
Also the supporting characters were just not acting normal. Colette was getting a bunch of death treats & they were acting like ‘oh it’s no big deal’. Like this book just didn’t match what would make sense for normal human behavior & I don’t mean in a thrilling way, but in an annoying one.
When I finally got to the end and found out what was going on, I found it even more boring. I pushed through this whole book for that? And the dialogue during that part was ridiculous.
If you enjoy this author, maybe this book is for you, but it definitely wasn’t for me.
Read for free from Amazon First Reads.
You know when you had to write an essay that had a required word count so you just talked in circles to fill it up? That is what this whole book felt like.
It started off interesting and then it felt like Colette, the main character, was just thinking and doing the same things over and over. I was so bored for the middle part that I started skimming through it. Even with murders going on, it bored me. How does that happen?
Also the supporting characters were just not acting normal. Colette was getting a bunch of death treats & they were acting like ‘oh it’s no big deal’. Like this book just didn’t match what would make sense for normal human behavior & I don’t mean in a thrilling way, but in an annoying one.
When I finally got to the end and found out what was going on, I found it even more boring. I pushed through this whole book for that? And the dialogue during that part was ridiculous.
If you enjoy this author, maybe this book is for you, but it definitely wasn’t for me.
Read for free from Amazon First Reads.
July 17, 2023
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer, Rachel Howzell Hall and Netgalley.
Man oh man, did I keep trying to love this book!
In the end, I guess I just liked it. Bummer!
I kept going through moments when I loved Coco, but there were more moments when she did something stupid, and I just wanted to smack her upside the head!
The people she considered friends was messed up. I wondered if she had ever had real and true friends to compare it to.
Still, I couldn't help rooting for her. Oddly enough, I'd love to see where she is 5 years down the road.
This book gets only 3 stars from me, but I think I'll be keeping an eye on future books from Ms. Hall. Honestly? She's can only get better, and I'd like to be around to read it!
Man oh man, did I keep trying to love this book!
In the end, I guess I just liked it. Bummer!
I kept going through moments when I loved Coco, but there were more moments when she did something stupid, and I just wanted to smack her upside the head!
The people she considered friends was messed up. I wondered if she had ever had real and true friends to compare it to.
Still, I couldn't help rooting for her. Oddly enough, I'd love to see where she is 5 years down the road.
This book gets only 3 stars from me, but I think I'll be keeping an eye on future books from Ms. Hall. Honestly? She's can only get better, and I'd like to be around to read it!
August 9, 2023
This was such a terrible book I don’t even know where to begin with this review. It felt like it was written by chat GPT and had some of the most cringey unreal lines that no human would write. The relationships were so confusing, one chapter it’s like my dear old aunt who loves me and took care of me after my family was killed, to the next one being this bitch tried to steal my house and my money, then back to im making her her favorite dinner of Vienna sausage and ritz crackers (also what) and were girlfriends again uwu. Also the weird ex husband drama that pans out to nothing, like he’s the abusive one but also I broke his nose with coffee mug and was supposed to jail but luckily didn’t somehow. THEN THE SETTING - I was so excited for this book to be set in Catalina, but I feel like the writing completely butchered the setting - like what we’re you even trying to describe some things were just grossly inaccurate about Catalina and made up ?? Everything in this book was so disjointed, I was like hate reading this book 1/4 of the way in but too stubborn to give up. Literally almost 400 pages of bullshit, then 2 pages of explanation with multiple villains who comes out of no where like bro what. AND ANOTHER THING HOW DO FIVE PEOPLE DIE ON A ISLAND AND NO ONE BATS AN EYE OR EVEN THINKS ITS MURDER then the sixth person gets murdered and THE POLICE ARE JUST LIKE WHOOPSIE DAISY IT IS MURDER! AND LASTLY WHY CHOOSE TO SET THIS IN MARCH 2020 like what does the background of the pandemic do at all for this story. I’m angry about this book.
August 3, 2023
Here’s your friendly reminder that if you are a person like me who has sold your soul on a monthly basis to . . . .
Don’t forget to check out the First Reads available each month. I rolled the dice on this Rachel Howzell Hall since it was offered up as a freebie, but it certainly will not be my last time reading her.
Twenty years ago Colette’s entire family was brutally murdered. She moved away as soon as she was able and made a name for herself as an award winning obituary writer. Unfortunately, she has to return to Catalina Island to help care for her aging aunt (and to get some distance/closure from her ex), but luckily the local paper is owned by her college bestie and she is actually the owner of the house where her aunt has always lived. And it’s not like she won’t have plenty of obits to write with the aging population on the Island . . . . but why are the deaths all so similar?
In a sea of whodunnits that are marketed as so thrilling and twisty and end up not being anything of the sort I REALLY appreciate the ones that assume readers are not idiots and give you a plot where you are pretty certain right from the beginning you know what’s going on and the enjoyment level comes from quality storytelling rather than shock and awe. That was the case here and the social thriller is quickly becoming my favorite type of thriller.
Don’t forget to check out the First Reads available each month. I rolled the dice on this Rachel Howzell Hall since it was offered up as a freebie, but it certainly will not be my last time reading her.
Twenty years ago Colette’s entire family was brutally murdered. She moved away as soon as she was able and made a name for herself as an award winning obituary writer. Unfortunately, she has to return to Catalina Island to help care for her aging aunt (and to get some distance/closure from her ex), but luckily the local paper is owned by her college bestie and she is actually the owner of the house where her aunt has always lived. And it’s not like she won’t have plenty of obits to write with the aging population on the Island . . . . but why are the deaths all so similar?
In a sea of whodunnits that are marketed as so thrilling and twisty and end up not being anything of the sort I REALLY appreciate the ones that assume readers are not idiots and give you a plot where you are pretty certain right from the beginning you know what’s going on and the enjoyment level comes from quality storytelling rather than shock and awe. That was the case here and the social thriller is quickly becoming my favorite type of thriller.
February 17, 2023
I loathed this writing style. It was so rushed and confusing. It really detracted from a great story with a very intriguing plot. I wanted to love this book but I didn't. Mysterious and original if you can vibe with the writing.
December 23, 2023
The description and cover of this book had me hooked. I think the plot was good, but the writing somehow didn’t ever draw me in like I wanted. This was a story I had to focus and force myself to read instead of a story I got lost in. I really liked the concept and the characters were interesting. The story moved very slowly until about the last quarter. I did like the bits of humor and I loved the obituaries that the main character wrote. Coco hasn’t returned home in years but when the aunt that raised her after her family was murdered starts to lose her memory she has to return to her home to care for her. But her aunt Gwen doesn’t appreciate her returning and reminding her that it is her home. And when the man convicted of murdering her family is found to be not guilty Coco is determined to find justice for her family. And while investigating she notices that there seem to be some suspicious deaths of elderly women. But someone doesn’t appreciate Coco poking around.
June 29, 2023
What Never Happened is the ninth novel by American author, Rachel Howzell Hall. In March, 2020, Colette Weber is back on Catalina Island. It’s not what she wanted, but since she lost her LA Times job, existing only on writing freelance obits, and with her (not-exactly) husband pressing her to sign divorce papers (and hand over a certain disputed-ownership $500K ring), she is returning to the house she owns in Avalon.
Her ageing Aunt Gwen, who took care of her at sixteen when her family was murdered on the island, is getting to the point where she’s not safe alone in the run-down Beacon St house. Colette will fix up the house and try to convince Gwen to come back to LA. Handy meanwhile that her best friend since college, Madeline Swenson, as editor-in-chief of the Avalon Breeze, has offered her a job as Obituaries and Community Events editor.
But being back in the town as the only survivor of a home invasion isn’t comfortable: Colette has the feeling she’s being watched. From her husband’s text threats, it could be someone of his. But DNA evidence has exonerated the man who served almost twenty years for the triple murder, so might it be a resentful ex-con? Or the real murderer, the one who got away with it, up to now?
Even scarier are the threats: a “welcome” on a photograph of Colette at sixteen, slipped under the door; phone calls insisting she sell the house, then threatening to set fire to it; a nasty message in a bottle through the window; different versions of Colette’s own obituary, left on the doorstep; a map circling the death locations of the widows appearing in her desk drawer; vaguely warning texts; her house trashed; all of which have her second-guessing just whom she can trust.
In the background, there are lots of dogs going missing; there’s some virus threatening to shut everything down; there’s a dishy colleague paying her attention; a flasher on the loose around the town; a literary agent chasing her to write the story of her family’s demise; an undercurrent of well-disguised racism still pervading the island; rumours of a cannibal killer; and several widows who own valuable real estate dying of unexpected causes, away from their homes.
A friend of those widows tells Colette: “People tend to disregard us old ladies—they think we’re only good for sewing robes and making hot chocolate, that we’re crazy since we can no longer bear children. But we’re smarter than everyone because we don’t have distractions anymore. No kids. No husbands for many of us. We always knew the evil that men did, and we still do. Just now, no one believes us.”
No one is looking into these deaths, deemed by accidental or natural causes. Nor is anyone looking for the true killer of her father, mother and brother. Some of these women apparently knew more about what happened to them back in June 2001, so Colette can’t let that go, can she? But as the only young black woman on the island, she’s not exactly inconspicuous, so covert investigation is a challenge. Might there be a clue about their murders in the boxes of her parents’ papers that she hasn’t had the courage to look through?
Once again, Howzell Hall gives the reader a plot with plenty of turns and red herrings that keep the reader guessing right up to the jaw-dropping climax. Her setting is well-depicted, with restricted accessibility to the island and the COVID outbreak giving the whole tale a bit of a closed-room mystery feel. Colette is a gutsy protagonist whom the reader can’t help cheering on, and irreverent Aunt Gwen is a dark delight. Even if the resolution Is a little rushed, this is a clever and brilliantly twisty page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
Her ageing Aunt Gwen, who took care of her at sixteen when her family was murdered on the island, is getting to the point where she’s not safe alone in the run-down Beacon St house. Colette will fix up the house and try to convince Gwen to come back to LA. Handy meanwhile that her best friend since college, Madeline Swenson, as editor-in-chief of the Avalon Breeze, has offered her a job as Obituaries and Community Events editor.
But being back in the town as the only survivor of a home invasion isn’t comfortable: Colette has the feeling she’s being watched. From her husband’s text threats, it could be someone of his. But DNA evidence has exonerated the man who served almost twenty years for the triple murder, so might it be a resentful ex-con? Or the real murderer, the one who got away with it, up to now?
Even scarier are the threats: a “welcome” on a photograph of Colette at sixteen, slipped under the door; phone calls insisting she sell the house, then threatening to set fire to it; a nasty message in a bottle through the window; different versions of Colette’s own obituary, left on the doorstep; a map circling the death locations of the widows appearing in her desk drawer; vaguely warning texts; her house trashed; all of which have her second-guessing just whom she can trust.
In the background, there are lots of dogs going missing; there’s some virus threatening to shut everything down; there’s a dishy colleague paying her attention; a flasher on the loose around the town; a literary agent chasing her to write the story of her family’s demise; an undercurrent of well-disguised racism still pervading the island; rumours of a cannibal killer; and several widows who own valuable real estate dying of unexpected causes, away from their homes.
A friend of those widows tells Colette: “People tend to disregard us old ladies—they think we’re only good for sewing robes and making hot chocolate, that we’re crazy since we can no longer bear children. But we’re smarter than everyone because we don’t have distractions anymore. No kids. No husbands for many of us. We always knew the evil that men did, and we still do. Just now, no one believes us.”
No one is looking into these deaths, deemed by accidental or natural causes. Nor is anyone looking for the true killer of her father, mother and brother. Some of these women apparently knew more about what happened to them back in June 2001, so Colette can’t let that go, can she? But as the only young black woman on the island, she’s not exactly inconspicuous, so covert investigation is a challenge. Might there be a clue about their murders in the boxes of her parents’ papers that she hasn’t had the courage to look through?
Once again, Howzell Hall gives the reader a plot with plenty of turns and red herrings that keep the reader guessing right up to the jaw-dropping climax. Her setting is well-depicted, with restricted accessibility to the island and the COVID outbreak giving the whole tale a bit of a closed-room mystery feel. Colette is a gutsy protagonist whom the reader can’t help cheering on, and irreverent Aunt Gwen is a dark delight. Even if the resolution Is a little rushed, this is a clever and brilliantly twisty page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
January 17, 2023
Oh, this was a fun one.
I love Catalina, but never before thought about it as a dangerous place. And as a brown-skinned tourist, I never ever thought about it in terms of what it would be like to live in such a homogeneous place.
Really not sure I’d like to live there now.
I liked Coco. I say this because my experience with the author is that sometimes her main characters kind of bug people. I’m of the definite opinion that you don’t need to like your main characters, but I’ve seen some reviews of her other books in which the MC killed it for people.
Coco is funny and I felt for her – both her past history and her current problems. LOL – and her ex! I loved the way she was dealing with him.
The plot is very mysterious and chilling.
My only (and small) complaint is that I knew the *who* and the *why* of everything way too early. I kept reading because a) I wanted to see if I was right and b) I liked Coco and wanted to see if she found any happiness (especially with a certain someone).
This was a fun and entertaining read and I can’t wait for whatever the author brings us next!
• ARC via Publisher
I love Catalina, but never before thought about it as a dangerous place. And as a brown-skinned tourist, I never ever thought about it in terms of what it would be like to live in such a homogeneous place.
Really not sure I’d like to live there now.
I liked Coco. I say this because my experience with the author is that sometimes her main characters kind of bug people. I’m of the definite opinion that you don’t need to like your main characters, but I’ve seen some reviews of her other books in which the MC killed it for people.
Coco is funny and I felt for her – both her past history and her current problems. LOL – and her ex! I loved the way she was dealing with him.
The plot is very mysterious and chilling.
My only (and small) complaint is that I knew the *who* and the *why* of everything way too early. I kept reading because a) I wanted to see if I was right and b) I liked Coco and wanted to see if she found any happiness (especially with a certain someone).
This was a fun and entertaining read and I can’t wait for whatever the author brings us next!
• ARC via Publisher
August 5, 2023
What Never Happens was one of my Amazon First Reads picks for July. Decided to start it just before the month was up, I’d seen mixed reviews but was curious to see how I’d rate it myself.
Twenty years ago, Colette “Coco” Weber was the sole survivor of a home invasion - her parents and brother were all brutally murdered. Now she is returning to Catalina Island to return to her old family home, where her Aunt Gwen now resides.
She takes up work writing obituaries for the local newspaper that her best friend Maddy runs. A lot of elderly residents of the island seem to be dropping dead of mysterious circumstances, but a lot of islands-folk don’t want to believe that murders could happen there, even though the murders of Colette’s family happened there in 2001! It’s like they have forgotten, or simply don’t care?
Things take a more sinister turn when Colette receives a piece of mail; her own obituary. She suddenly starts to feel like she can’t trust the people around her. Who is out to get her - her obsessive ex that she fled L.A. to get away from? Or somebody else that is on the island? The clock is ticking and Colette is left fighting against her past and against meeting the same fate as her deceased family.
This is an easy and fast paced read, the writing style is engaging - 400+ page can easily fly by at this pace. Colette is a strong black female main character - some girl power representation that we love to see!
However, it didn’t really blow me away. Even though its set in March 2020, the references to COVID feel tired at this point. I guess it was to make it feel more “real world” as I’m assuming this book was written during the pandemic.
The twist near the end was quite good, made sense as one character shows signs of being quite uncaring throughout which make sense once this is revealed.
A solid 3 star thriller.
Twenty years ago, Colette “Coco” Weber was the sole survivor of a home invasion - her parents and brother were all brutally murdered. Now she is returning to Catalina Island to return to her old family home, where her Aunt Gwen now resides.
She takes up work writing obituaries for the local newspaper that her best friend Maddy runs. A lot of elderly residents of the island seem to be dropping dead of mysterious circumstances, but a lot of islands-folk don’t want to believe that murders could happen there, even though the murders of Colette’s family happened there in 2001! It’s like they have forgotten, or simply don’t care?
Things take a more sinister turn when Colette receives a piece of mail; her own obituary. She suddenly starts to feel like she can’t trust the people around her. Who is out to get her - her obsessive ex that she fled L.A. to get away from? Or somebody else that is on the island? The clock is ticking and Colette is left fighting against her past and against meeting the same fate as her deceased family.
This is an easy and fast paced read, the writing style is engaging - 400+ page can easily fly by at this pace. Colette is a strong black female main character - some girl power representation that we love to see!
However, it didn’t really blow me away. Even though its set in March 2020, the references to COVID feel tired at this point. I guess it was to make it feel more “real world” as I’m assuming this book was written during the pandemic.
The twist near the end was quite good, made sense as one character shows signs of being quite uncaring throughout which make sense once this is revealed.
A solid 3 star thriller.
October 25, 2023
I still don't get the title of the name. Unless.... it's a reference to the fact that I won't remember this book. Almost like reading this... NEVER HAPPENED lol
In all seriousness. I didn't like this. It's absolutely NOT a thriller. The epilogue started off very strong and had my interest but immediately fell flat. Coco, the FMC was possibly one of the dumbest black characters I've ever read. And the pacing of the story was way too slow.
This didn't get interesting until about the 65% mark and by then I only decided to finish so that I can discuss it at book club.
Do yourself a favor and skip this one..
In all seriousness. I didn't like this. It's absolutely NOT a thriller. The epilogue started off very strong and had my interest but immediately fell flat. Coco, the FMC was possibly one of the dumbest black characters I've ever read. And the pacing of the story was way too slow.
This didn't get interesting until about the 65% mark and by then I only decided to finish so that I can discuss it at book club.
Do yourself a favor and skip this one..
January 19, 2023
I enjoyed this book, though at well over 400 pages, I felt it was long and would have moved at a faster pace if cut down a bit. The story focuses on Colette, who returns to Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles as an adult, having left as a teen after her parents and brother were brutally murdered. Upon her return, she realizes that there are still secrets being kept, people are still being murdered, and that someone doesn't want her to be there.
This was a pretty deep story with a heavy focus on race relations, which is not insinuated anywhere in the synopsis- this could be a trigger for some. I found myself sometimes not sure if I liked Colette or not based on her interactions with others and her general attitude towards certain people. That being said, I did enjoy getting to know her throughout the book and I thought many of the decisions she made seemed reasonable. I thought the mystery was sound; there were 2 different things to be solved- the original murder of Colette's family and the current murders happening upon her return that no one but her seems all that worried about. I had suspicions about some of the characters but had not fully landed on who I thought the villain was until it was revealed. I am actually familiar with Catalina Island and thought the author did a great job laying out the landscape in a way that was authentic, familiar, and easy to picture.
Overall, though the story felt like a slog at times, I enjoyed it and thought the characters were well developed, the mystery was intriguing, and the atmosphere was portrayed well. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pretty deep story with a heavy focus on race relations, which is not insinuated anywhere in the synopsis- this could be a trigger for some. I found myself sometimes not sure if I liked Colette or not based on her interactions with others and her general attitude towards certain people. That being said, I did enjoy getting to know her throughout the book and I thought many of the decisions she made seemed reasonable. I thought the mystery was sound; there were 2 different things to be solved- the original murder of Colette's family and the current murders happening upon her return that no one but her seems all that worried about. I had suspicions about some of the characters but had not fully landed on who I thought the villain was until it was revealed. I am actually familiar with Catalina Island and thought the author did a great job laying out the landscape in a way that was authentic, familiar, and easy to picture.
Overall, though the story felt like a slog at times, I enjoyed it and thought the characters were well developed, the mystery was intriguing, and the atmosphere was portrayed well. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2023
As a fan of Rachel Howzell Hall's previous books, I was so excited to read this one. The premise seemed unique and mysterious, with a great setting on Catalina Island. Unfortunately, I struggled to stay interested in the story. The plot took too long to take off, and by the time it did, I was ready to move on. While this book wasn't a fit for me, I'm still a fan of Hall's, and look forward to her next novel..
August 29, 2023
This book is what should have never happened
April 24, 2024
2.5 - This book was doing too much. The first 100 pages alone were too much of a ride for me, and not in the classic thriller way, more of so much information that you’re then told to keep in mind while the real plot starts. There were whole chapters describing Coco’s friendship with a girl, only for the last paragraph to be a 180 of why Coco doesn’t trust her. On top of that, the character design for Coco was extremely all over the place. You get full paragraphs and mentions of how her ex husband mistreated her, and then a quick mention of how she “spaces out” with rage and “comes to” after damage is done. Feels like maybe you should be expanding on that?
One of the main themes of this book is how racism is intertwined into so many facets of life. This really pulled me in as the MC, Coco, is a black woman on an otherwise all-white (and definitely prejudice) island. But, by the time I got halfway through it felt like that was really the only theme. The rest of it was just her being gaslit by every white islander while the most insane things are happening to her. The ending didn’t really even shock me because of the amount of confusion I had on what was even trying to be solved. It’s also worth noting that if you’ve ever read a “whodunnit” thriller, you’ll probably guess the conclusion.
Overall, it was a decent book. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, but I really just needed this story to pick a plot and stick with it.
One of the main themes of this book is how racism is intertwined into so many facets of life. This really pulled me in as the MC, Coco, is a black woman on an otherwise all-white (and definitely prejudice) island. But, by the time I got halfway through it felt like that was really the only theme. The rest of it was just her being gaslit by every white islander while the most insane things are happening to her. The ending didn’t really even shock me because of the amount of confusion I had on what was even trying to be solved. It’s also worth noting that if you’ve ever read a “whodunnit” thriller, you’ll probably guess the conclusion.
Overall, it was a decent book. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, but I really just needed this story to pick a plot and stick with it.
January 13, 2023
A new entry from Rachel Howzell Hall, and it is truly great!
Colette “Coco” Weber has returned to her tiny Catalina Island home where many years prior her family was slain in the night. Coco is still very much traumatized by the deaths of her parents and brother and only returns to her home to care for her elderly Aunt who needs support.
Coco has been writing obituaries for her profession and her college friend quickly hires her to the local paper. The obituaries featured in the book are a great touch and I very much enjoyed them! While doing her reporting and potentially finding a new flame Coco is also hiding from her ex and fears that the murderer of her family is now on the island. She begins to receive threatening notes and strange things are happening at the house. Who is behind all of this and is Coco in danger?
Honestly the first quarter of the book was clunky for me and I almost gave up but then everything came together beautifully and I stayed up late in the night to finish it! Coco is a great character and I was rooting for her all the way! #Thomas&Mercer #RachelHowzellHall #WhatNeverHappened
Colette “Coco” Weber has returned to her tiny Catalina Island home where many years prior her family was slain in the night. Coco is still very much traumatized by the deaths of her parents and brother and only returns to her home to care for her elderly Aunt who needs support.
Coco has been writing obituaries for her profession and her college friend quickly hires her to the local paper. The obituaries featured in the book are a great touch and I very much enjoyed them! While doing her reporting and potentially finding a new flame Coco is also hiding from her ex and fears that the murderer of her family is now on the island. She begins to receive threatening notes and strange things are happening at the house. Who is behind all of this and is Coco in danger?
Honestly the first quarter of the book was clunky for me and I almost gave up but then everything came together beautifully and I stayed up late in the night to finish it! Coco is a great character and I was rooting for her all the way! #Thomas&Mercer #RachelHowzellHall #WhatNeverHappened
July 11, 2023
3⭐️
When I saw this gorgeous cover on Amazon First Reads - I just knew I was going to pick this one. Interesting premise - woman returns to the island where her entire family was murdered 20 years ago, starts working at a local paper and notices older women are dying mysteriously.
It started out great, there was a lot going on but the idea she was getting these creepy messages and that there was a possible serial killer on the same island was intriguing. There are A LOT of aspects to this book though - it seemed as if the author tried to throw in so many different things to throw you off of the real suspect. There's her family's death, the death's of the old women, her ex-husband coming after her, her aunt wanting her gone, her job with her friend (who's really bitchy idk why she was friends with her), a budding romance with a co-worker, and someone threatening her. THAT'S SO MUCH STUFF (honestly there's probs more I am missing too).
There really weren't any likable characters in this entire book. Even the entire town seemed like it had hateful vibes (if you have seen the movie Get Out, think of that in terms of this town). I hate a COVID trope - apparently, that is a thing now. There was not a single character you could trust and Coco kept making the WORST decisions possible. Not a single person believed her about anything that was going on - yet she kept telling EVERYONE everything she found out.... like if there was a killer after you, they know how to get you because you can't shut your mouth.
The biggest thing I had a problem with BY FAR was the fact the author made Collette refer to her lady parts as a CRISPER. WTF does that even mean.... I legitimately almost DNFed this book solely because of that. It was so cringy.
But.... the story was interesting so I kept on reading...
Fast forward to the ending and I legitimately did not guess where the story was going (probably because there was legit so many elements who knew what really was going on). So the ending did take me by surprise. But I felt as if we were still left with so many unanswered questions about things the author brought up but then NEVER mentioned again.
3-star rating. The book did keep me invested in the story but it was also easy to put down. I never really felt like I had to keep reading. Bonus points for making Colette a obit writer and for the creepy messages being her future obit. But that was probably the best part of the book tbh.
When I saw this gorgeous cover on Amazon First Reads - I just knew I was going to pick this one. Interesting premise - woman returns to the island where her entire family was murdered 20 years ago, starts working at a local paper and notices older women are dying mysteriously.
It started out great, there was a lot going on but the idea she was getting these creepy messages and that there was a possible serial killer on the same island was intriguing. There are A LOT of aspects to this book though - it seemed as if the author tried to throw in so many different things to throw you off of the real suspect. There's her family's death, the death's of the old women, her ex-husband coming after her, her aunt wanting her gone, her job with her friend (who's really bitchy idk why she was friends with her), a budding romance with a co-worker, and someone threatening her. THAT'S SO MUCH STUFF (honestly there's probs more I am missing too).
There really weren't any likable characters in this entire book. Even the entire town seemed like it had hateful vibes (if you have seen the movie Get Out, think of that in terms of this town). I hate a COVID trope - apparently, that is a thing now. There was not a single character you could trust and Coco kept making the WORST decisions possible. Not a single person believed her about anything that was going on - yet she kept telling EVERYONE everything she found out.... like if there was a killer after you, they know how to get you because you can't shut your mouth.
The biggest thing I had a problem with BY FAR was the fact the author made Collette refer to her lady parts as a CRISPER. WTF does that even mean.... I legitimately almost DNFed this book solely because of that. It was so cringy.
But.... the story was interesting so I kept on reading...
Fast forward to the ending and I legitimately did not guess where the story was going (probably because there was legit so many elements who knew what really was going on). So the ending did take me by surprise. But I felt as if we were still left with so many unanswered questions about things the author brought up but then NEVER mentioned again.
3-star rating. The book did keep me invested in the story but it was also easy to put down. I never really felt like I had to keep reading. Bonus points for making Colette a obit writer and for the creepy messages being her future obit. But that was probably the best part of the book tbh.
July 31, 2023
Colette “Coco” Weber has relocated to her Catalina Island home, where, twenty years before, she was the sole survivor of a deadly home invasion. All Coco wants is to see her aunt Gwen, get as far away from her ex as possible, and get back to her craft—writing obituaries. Thankfully, her college best friend, Maddy, owns the local paper and has a job sure to keep Coco busy, considering the number of elderly folks who are dying on the island.
But as Coco learns more about these deaths, she quickly realizes that the circumstances surrounding them are remarkably similar…and not natural. Then Coco receives a sinister threat in the mail: her own obituary.
As Coco begins to draw connections between a serial killer’s crimes and her own family tragedy, she fears that the secrets on Catalina Island might be too deep to survive. Because whoever is watching her is hell-bent on finally putting her past to rest.
I don’t know what it was about this story but I was just constantly wanting MORE. I really enjoyed the concept and the underlying messages of racism, intolerance and the importance of family but I just didn’t connect with Coco or any of the characters for that matter which left me not really caring about the outcome of her story which in turn left me at the end of the book just feeling meh. I read this not long after reading Hall’s other novel ‘These Toxic Things’ and I found too many similarities between the stories and where Toxic Things triumphed, this one failed.
But as Coco learns more about these deaths, she quickly realizes that the circumstances surrounding them are remarkably similar…and not natural. Then Coco receives a sinister threat in the mail: her own obituary.
As Coco begins to draw connections between a serial killer’s crimes and her own family tragedy, she fears that the secrets on Catalina Island might be too deep to survive. Because whoever is watching her is hell-bent on finally putting her past to rest.
I don’t know what it was about this story but I was just constantly wanting MORE. I really enjoyed the concept and the underlying messages of racism, intolerance and the importance of family but I just didn’t connect with Coco or any of the characters for that matter which left me not really caring about the outcome of her story which in turn left me at the end of the book just feeling meh. I read this not long after reading Hall’s other novel ‘These Toxic Things’ and I found too many similarities between the stories and where Toxic Things triumphed, this one failed.
July 14, 2023
I chose this book as a Kindle first reads. It was ok. I totally figured out some of the twists. The book was slow going and kind of all over the place. Time felt like it was flying by in the book to only be reminded it was a day later. There's no way in early 2000s a family is slaughtered and everyone just forgets. There's no way in 2020 several elderly women get left out in the weather to die and the police just say it's natural causes. We get a full description of a character that doesn't do anything for the story and yet I don't know enough about the ppl who are front and center. Collette us a strange main character. One minute shes losing her stuff about her family being slaughtered, then she's just wandering around by herself in the middle.of the night? She let's some random ass white man wander through her home and doesn't check on anything? But then can't even open the door to her parents room bc its just too much!? WHICH IS IT!?!? IS SHE TRAUMATIZED OR IS SHE THE GIRL RUNNING INTO THE DARK WOODS INSTEAD OF THE POLICE STATION. Then she doesn't even turn in the ppl who attempted to murder her and murdered everyone else!?! What in the actual hell!?!?
As I'm writing this, I'm getting more disappointed in the story. 2.5/5 just don't do it. There are much better thrillers with characters that make ALOT more sense.
As I'm writing this, I'm getting more disappointed in the story. 2.5/5 just don't do it. There are much better thrillers with characters that make ALOT more sense.
August 1, 2023
Rachel Howzell Hall is back with another riveting family drama. Her stories always cut to the core and challenge the past so it's always something I want to breathe in slowly. She's one of my favorite authors and this one sounded extra creepy.
Coco seems to have been surrounded by death her entire life. As a youth, she was the lone survivor of a violent and deadly home invasion that killed her family.
After a breakup, Coco is relocating. As an obituary writer, she's going where the bodies are thanks to her friend giving her a new opportunity but she realizes the bodies might be piling up a *little* too quickly.
Her curiosity brings her threats but if there's a serial killer or a chance at finally getting closure and/or justice for her family, they're going to have to try harder than that.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!
Coco seems to have been surrounded by death her entire life. As a youth, she was the lone survivor of a violent and deadly home invasion that killed her family.
After a breakup, Coco is relocating. As an obituary writer, she's going where the bodies are thanks to her friend giving her a new opportunity but she realizes the bodies might be piling up a *little* too quickly.
Her curiosity brings her threats but if there's a serial killer or a chance at finally getting closure and/or justice for her family, they're going to have to try harder than that.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!
Read
July 16, 2023Underwhelming and, well, boring. You'd think the concept of this book would keep the pages turning, but after giving it the college try halfway, I gave up (which I hate to do). There was very little "thrill" in this thiller.
August 2, 2023
I need to remember to avoid this writer. Her books don’t click with me.
February 13, 2024
4.5 Stars Rounded up
This is easily my favorite of the novels I've read by this author.
This sucked me right in and did not let me go until the very end.
I wanted a tiny bit more from the reveals but this was excellent.
This is easily my favorite of the novels I've read by this author.
This sucked me right in and did not let me go until the very end.
I wanted a tiny bit more from the reveals but this was excellent.
July 7, 2023
My Review 🫧
📖 What Never Happened by Rachel Howzell Hall
Rating: ⭐️
➡️ SWIPE FOR SYNOPSIS ➡️
Absolutely terrible childish writing.
Ridiculously ludicrous ending
Waste of time
Book 124 of 2023
#bookstagram #instabook #bookphotography #bookporn #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs #booknerdproblems #bookpictures #bookstagram #amreading #booksbooksbooks #instablog #booknerds #bookphotos #bibliophile
📖 What Never Happened by Rachel Howzell Hall
Rating: ⭐️
➡️ SWIPE FOR SYNOPSIS ➡️
Absolutely terrible childish writing.
Ridiculously ludicrous ending
Waste of time
Book 124 of 2023
#bookstagram #instabook #bookphotography #bookporn #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs #booknerdproblems #bookpictures #bookstagram #amreading #booksbooksbooks #instablog #booknerds #bookphotos #bibliophile
August 15, 2023
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and her stories are always enjoyable! I like how she doesn’t shy away from real issues going on in the world today like race and stereotyping. It’s refreshing to see a different take on the usual thriller/mystery and I’m definitely going to read more of her work in the future! I didn’t see the twists coming even when I thought I had it all figured out. If mysteries and thrillers are your thing, check this book out for sure!
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and her stories are always enjoyable! I like how she doesn’t shy away from real issues going on in the world today like race and stereotyping. It’s refreshing to see a different take on the usual thriller/mystery and I’m definitely going to read more of her work in the future! I didn’t see the twists coming even when I thought I had it all figured out. If mysteries and thrillers are your thing, check this book out for sure!
July 8, 2023
The Beast of Avalon...
WHAT NEVER HAPPENED by Rachel Howzell Hall...
No spoilers. 4 stars. This was book 2 of 2 of my Amazon First Reads selections, and it was the better of the 2...
In 2001...
Colette Weber was the lone survivor of the killing of her family. She was only 16 at the time. They were the only black people living on Catalina Island...
In 2020...
Colette (Coco) returns to Catalina Island to write obituaries for the island's paper, The Avalon Breeze, and research the murders...
On her first day back...
Coco received a letter under the door addressed to The One Who Survived reading...
Welcome home...
Avalon, 20 years later, is advertised as still lovely, still safe, and still paradise...
Mayberry by the sea...
But...
Old, widowed women are being systematically murdered by an unknown serial killer who wants their home...
The killer, dubbed The Beast of Avalon, is like an invasive species to the island... like a tangerine seed discarded on the island's ground by a tourist...
Even more worrisome...
Coco's lawyer called to say that the man convicted of the murders 20 years ago has been freed due to new DNA evidence that cleared him...
And he wants revenge...
This novel was an excellent whodunit mystery with many suspects. If you've ever visited Catalina Island, you'll find this story very atmospheric.
Excellent Amazon First Reads selection.
WHAT NEVER HAPPENED by Rachel Howzell Hall...
No spoilers. 4 stars. This was book 2 of 2 of my Amazon First Reads selections, and it was the better of the 2...
In 2001...
Colette Weber was the lone survivor of the killing of her family. She was only 16 at the time. They were the only black people living on Catalina Island...
In 2020...
Colette (Coco) returns to Catalina Island to write obituaries for the island's paper, The Avalon Breeze, and research the murders...
On her first day back...
Coco received a letter under the door addressed to The One Who Survived reading...
Welcome home...
Avalon, 20 years later, is advertised as still lovely, still safe, and still paradise...
Mayberry by the sea...
But...
Old, widowed women are being systematically murdered by an unknown serial killer who wants their home...
The killer, dubbed The Beast of Avalon, is like an invasive species to the island... like a tangerine seed discarded on the island's ground by a tourist...
Even more worrisome...
Coco's lawyer called to say that the man convicted of the murders 20 years ago has been freed due to new DNA evidence that cleared him...
And he wants revenge...
This novel was an excellent whodunit mystery with many suspects. If you've ever visited Catalina Island, you'll find this story very atmospheric.
Excellent Amazon First Reads selection.
August 12, 2023
TITLE: WHAT NEVER HAPPENED
AUTHOR: Rachel Howzell Hall
PUB DATE: 08.01.2023 Now Available
It’s murder in paradise as a woman uncovers a host of secrets off the rocky California coast in a gripping novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall.
THOUGHTS:
I’m a huge fan of Rachel Howzell Hall and each of her novels just keep getting better and better, with the family drama more complex, characters fleshed out, and a surprising twist I could not even guess.
Coco Webber unreluctantly returns to her once home, Catalina Island, where she is the lone survivor of a deadly home invasion twenty years ago that killed her family. Now she is back and working for Avalon Breeze as an obituary writer and to research some unusual deaths on the island. We also find out that new DNA evidence cleared the person behind bars responsible for her family’s murder. In an atmospheric read and twists upon twists, to its shocking and surprising ending, I found Hall’s latest a fantastic thriller read.
AUTHOR: Rachel Howzell Hall
PUB DATE: 08.01.2023 Now Available
It’s murder in paradise as a woman uncovers a host of secrets off the rocky California coast in a gripping novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall.
THOUGHTS:
I’m a huge fan of Rachel Howzell Hall and each of her novels just keep getting better and better, with the family drama more complex, characters fleshed out, and a surprising twist I could not even guess.
Coco Webber unreluctantly returns to her once home, Catalina Island, where she is the lone survivor of a deadly home invasion twenty years ago that killed her family. Now she is back and working for Avalon Breeze as an obituary writer and to research some unusual deaths on the island. We also find out that new DNA evidence cleared the person behind bars responsible for her family’s murder. In an atmospheric read and twists upon twists, to its shocking and surprising ending, I found Hall’s latest a fantastic thriller read.
July 27, 2023
Way too much going on in this one, leading to too many red herrings. I also found it impossible to believe that an acclaimed obituary writer would be so blasé about Covid. Also, having been a reporter who also wrote obits, I found it hard to suspend my disbelief about her work priorities (or lack thereof).
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