The Photo Album

by Brian O'Sullivan

A long dormant mystery comes to life in THE PHOTO ALBUM!

When Bobby McGowan discovers an old photo album belonging to his mother - who was murdered twenty years ago - he becomes convinced that one of the photos holds the key to finally solving her murder.

Despite the protests of his father and sister, Bobby marches forward with the investigation. He builds a website dedicated to the murder of his mother, and receives a message from the purported killer. The game is on.

Set in a world filled with suspense, danger, and secrets, THE PHOTO ALBUM is a gripping thriller that will leave you gasping for air.

Fans of Connelly, Patterson, or Baldacci will love this page-turning novel.

Buy it now before the price changes!

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Horror, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 14, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[STEPH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whoa. That was something.

Honestly, the villain kind of scared me. Someone who could hold a grudge for years—some random guy you pissed off or embarrassed over a little thing—you'd think it was nothing, probably forget about him, only for him to come back and take revenge after so many years. Scary.

This book is okay. I liked most parts of it. Bobby isn’t really admirable at times, and he made a lot of foolish decisions, but I can't help rooting for him. I noticed that in every conversation he ever had with anyone, he was always making jokes and poking fun at people. I don’t mind it, but sometimes it gets a little bit too much. And his actions in the latter part of the book aren’t really how anyone should act in a situation—unless you’re Superman or something.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I’m not eager to read the second book in the series, but it’s quite fun nonetheless.

[Terri Minton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow at the beginning then "answers" seem to come out of nowhere. Proofreading would help too. The main character's mother would often be referred to as his sister and his uncle as his brother. Another character's name was spelled 3 different ways. Not sure I will be reading more of his books.

[BookAddict · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started did not finish. The writing was overly simple, more like YA, with way too much minutiae information - I didn't need to know exactly what every character has to eat every time they sit down to do so. I actually found it hard to believe Bobby was in his 30s and then when they ID the killer less than halfway through, I was not in the mood by this time to plow through more of Bobby's story to find out how he finally figures it out.

[Courtney Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on Goodreads is an absolute travesty. Did I download the wrong book? Because this was one of the most poorly edited books I’ve ever read. I felt there was an error every other page and it really pulled me out of the story. “Conure” instead of “conjure”, “todays” instead of “today”, additional letters added to words, sometimes a sentence would be missing a word. Incredibly sloppy writing.

I also despised that everyone spoke to each other like children, characters were constantly asking each other if they understood or if they were “still with me” over the simplest statements/questions.

Booby…I mean Bobby was one of the silliest characters ever put on paper. I find it quite bizarre that Ivy practically forced her way back into his life and then decided to leave at the end. Honestly no loss there, she had the personality of a paper clip.

Why was everyone in the book constantly cracking jokes, laughing and/or smiling? I never felt any sense of urgency or tension because the characters didn’t even take themselves seriously.

Why was Jen such a twat?

Conrad had way too many chapters.

And I’ve spent way too much time on this review.

YEESH.

[Marissa Webb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not one to write reviews but this one warranted one.

This may have been the worst book I’ve ever read. Between a meh plot that dragged, numerous typos, and an overall writing style that matched that of a 6th grader, I was hate reading it just to finish it. Bobby was a hatable character. He was a creep and gross when it came to his ex girlfriend. Everything just fell into place, with little work to him. There was no tension or suspense.

Will be putting this author on the Do Not Read list for SURE.

[Sue Miz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am .....struggeling
And now I am DNFing at 60%

the writing style was not for me

I love dialogue-based books, but i dint need to know details of what the kids names and what food they had every single time and what clothe and....unless it is relevant to the plot which in this case it wasn't

Also, Bobby got on my nerves. " oh, I got laid off work and now I have a lot of time on my hands so imma investigate my mom's murders ...after 20 years!!!!!"

The serial killer's POV was the only thing that made me power through, but even that was not that enticing

[Karen McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give up, it’s so slow & dragged out!
They needed a proofreader!

[Sinead Heath · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful, child like writing that needs editing. The narration is mind numbing in the audio book.

[JessicaB📚BookBae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic book and my first finished for 2025. Brian O’Sullivan was recommended to me in a book page I follow and I was not disappointed one bit.

The Photo Album follows Bobby, the son of a murder victim and his drive to find his mothers killer almost 20years later. The killer is extremely calculated, prepared and above all, terrifying. This book comes from the perspective of both Bobby and the Killer which is both captivating and draws you in further.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for my review on this book. There is a second book following this which I cannot wait to pick up and read.

[Stacey Labissiere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm, I will be adding another author to my list of favorites.

I came across Brian O'Sullivan while in a Facebook group dedicated to those who enjoy psycho-thrillers. I had made a post that caused a stir, complaining that people only recommend the same three authors. Brian had commented on the post, plugging his book. Now, I am the type of person I will support no matter what and will always give my honest opinion, good or bad, because we want everyone to grow here.

That being said, O'Sullivan has done a great job with this story. I had a lot of things that had gotten in the way of me entirely in this story sooner. But I wanted to be focused on consuming this story. This was a fresh new take on a mystery. Bobby, our protagonist, comes off as a goofy guy in his early 30s. He reminded me of my close guy friends as he and I are close in age. It opened up the story with him going through an old photo album (which I liked because I love photo albums and physical memories). O'Sullivan jumped in to let us know what Bobby's motivation for the story would be moving forward. That part wasn't necessarily my favorite because the opening chapter did feel quite goofy, but as I mentioned before, that vibe I got from Bobby, so it is also on brand.

Also, we learn early who the antagonist is. I like that aspect of stories as it gives me more of a thriller vibe because I am on edge to see if the MC can figure things out. I spent most of this story rooting for Bobby and hoping that he would find a way to get his life together because at 32, what are we doing running about playing detective, not trying to secure a job?

Reading this book while listening to the audiobook enhanced my experience, especially with the portrayal of Conrad's voice. The story concludes with a promising setup for a sequel, which I eagerly look forward to. As I read the last line, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Yes, I'm definitely getting the next book!"

Mr. O'Sullivan, I must commend you for this quality read. Your unique storytelling and engaging characters have left me eagerly anticipating your next work.

[Pamala · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much telling not much showing. Give yourself a favor and remove this from your TBR.

[Laura Felty · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good read

I'm very impressed with this author. I enjoyed this storyline. The character building was excellent. The detail was crisp and thorough. I did not see that ending in either direction. I can't wait to read the next one.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

How are there so many high ratings? I wanted to give this book three stars because the story was okay, but the amount of errors in this book was laughable. How does this author not have readers to check for issues, or a publisher that catches problems before releasing? I stopped counting at 7 errors and just laughed every time another one popped up.

I don’t recommend this book and will not be reading any more by this author.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by O’Sullivan and I was blown away!! Such a good story that kept me turning the pages. Bobby is such a likable character and you’re rooting for him the whole time. The antagonist of the story kept me laughing. The way the humor was infused in this story was so great. Kept a dark story light. Now I’m off to read “The Other Annie”

[LaDonna Mead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Not your typical twisty who done it thriller. Pretty much an in your face thriller .. you know who it is, now how to find them.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I loved this book and was really impressed with Bobby. I couldn't help but keep turning the pages as the story unfolded.

[aniston · Rating 2 out of 5]

the writer of this is self-published and a lot of the issues with this book could have been fixed with a proper editor.

I was shocked that this wasn't the author's first book, though.

the were multiple errors in narration where the character would switch between past and present tense. it made reading this very awkward sounding. also not a fan of the parts in which the MC and the POV of the killer describe the same events at the same time.

it also felt like the author was trying WAY too hard to be funny. almost every conversation the MC had with any character was littered with jokes and banter. it's a very dialogue heavy book and 90% of the conversations are so unserious. all the side characters felt the same. I didn't connect with anyone.

the killer was such a cliché as well and reading his POV made me roll my eyes.

I heard the second book in this series is better, so I might give it a go, but this was not a well written book.

[Paige White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook narrator was absolutely terrible. They did 1 narrator for all voices, and even the regular voice read in such an over exaggerated tone that I was annoyed, but don't get me started on when he began to talk like an elderly woman.

As for the storyline... its slow.. I only made it to chapter 24 (of 66) when the killer was fully ID'd & started going on about how they themselves knew they were a serial killer even as a child when they began torturing & killing pets. That's a nope for me. I shut it off. Doubt I'll ever un-DNF it.

For the overall: I would have much preferred dual narrators for the book, & probably would of skipped ahead over the killer glorifying their animal kills had it not been for the terrible narrator. I hope they choose someone else in the future, I would definitely check out future books if so.

[Mulberry]

DNF

[Lori Albertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cool ‘who done it?’ that becomes a ‘will the bad guy be caught?’ tale. If you like police-like procedurals, this one is for you.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read! Loved how the book kept me on my toes with all the twists and turns.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about a son trying to figure out who killed his mother 20 years prior. It was wordy at times, but I liked the approach to the investigation. The author added a lot of wit which added to the story! I think I’ve found a new author!

[Amy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bobby ❤️

I had heard good things about this series in my FB groups, and I was not disappointed by this read at all. Bobby is a very likable character, there is a great plot, and things flow nicely. Looking forward to the next in the series!

[Robin Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! So good finished in 2 days!!!

[Share · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - rounding up to 4 for goodreads ratings.

While I found the first half of the book a little slow, the final stretch of the book made up for it.

Basically, main character Bobby finds he has some time on his hands after being fired from his job. With the 20th anniversary of his mothers murder approaching, he decides to take his new found free time and investigate old leads and hope to reopen the cold case to find her killer 🔪

The story starts off slow for me. A lot of characters are introduced and not a lot of action. Things start to pick up for me just past the half way mark and I become more invested in the story.

The last bit of the book when everything is going down, really had my attention. I had anxiety and my heart rate was elevated. The final chapters tied everything together perfectly, the book has the closure I need in a book and I appreciate it!

Overall, a good read. As long as you are okay with a slow burn start, I’d definitely recommend this one!

[Hannah's Biblioblurbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by this author and surely not my last! The perfect amount of description to really visualize and get into the story without it being overly descriptive.

Bobby McGowan is down on his luck with the recent loss of his job and his girlfriend. With idol hands, he soon finds himself elbow deep in the investigation of his mother's murder that happened 20 years ago. And it all starts with one picture from an old photo album.

Bobby is a raw, relatable protagonist and so easy to root for. A few times I wanted to throw something at him but that comes with every good plot, right? His relationship with ex girlfriend Ivy brings a smidge of hope and joy to what is a wild ride of emotions in this thriller. Cannot wait to read the next book with Bobby "The Other Annie"!

[Lauren Duprey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Proofread is the first term that comes to mind. I really can't stress the importance of proofreading. Mistakes, like those that take place in this novel, teeter on breaking the fourth wall and not in a cute way. This had inconsistencies, typos, and unrealistic writing. I understand that being a more indie author can come with its difficulties and hardships, but I wanted to be honest with this review. 2 stars because some areas were compelling and interesting. But this truly was not my cup of tea.

[spookybookz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good mystery thriller! this follows the main protagonist Bobby who's mother was murdered when he was a kid, now he's older and has never been able to let go, he's eager to find who is responsible and decides to start his own investigation! I'm not usually a lover of detective kind of books but this hit differently as it's a family member seeking answers rather than the detectives. Characters were all very interesting and likeable too, great story line.

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

The proofreading was absolutely atrocious and distracted from the story. I know that most books in this genre tend to be far fetched, but really. I only finished the book because I paid for it. Won’t be reading another.

[Rhonda Ofstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

photo album

Great story. Mystery murder secrets I love the book. I actually feel sorry for Bobby in middle of book! Easy and fun to read! Superb job!