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Only the Guilty Survive
A podcaster digs into strange connections between a cult’s mass suicide and the murder of a local beauty queen in this twisty psychological thriller about true crime culture, perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Lisa Jewell. The mass suicide of a cult known as The Flock sent shockwaves through the small rural town of Iola, Michigan. Led by the charismatic Dominic Bragg, The Flock camped at an abandoned bird sanctuary before their sudden and shocking demise. The deaths came just weeks after one of their members, Laurel Tai, a local pageant queen, was abducted. The town turned its blame and fear onto the sole survivor, Claire Kettler–Laurel’s best friend. Burdened by grief and unanswered questions about her friend’s murder and her fellow cult members’ deaths, Claire can’t help but wonder what really happened, especially when the cult leader is nowhere to be found. When podcaster Arlo Stone begins poking around ten years later, determined to uncover the truth about the cult and Laurel’s murder, Claire is propelled back into action. In a desperate attempt to puzzle out the past and keep her secrets from being spilled for the entertainment of thousands of listeners, Claire must dig into a tangle of unanswered questions before time runs out and history repeats itself.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
43 people are currently reading
6397 people want to read
About the author
Kate Robards
2 books94 followersKate Robards is the author of the suspense thriller The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
May 26, 2024
writing: meh | plot: all over the place | ending: *stares in befuddlement*
my opinion
MAY HAS BEEN A ROUGH MONTH FOR ME. PLS SEND HELP.
The good: I had a very successful buddy read with Karly and the cover is one of the best in the thriller genre.
The bad: This was... confusing and relentlessly repetitive to say the least. If I was being harsh, I'd say it was ass. I'm going with confusing instead.
I LOVE cult books but I'm so over the true crime podcaster trope. Still, my love for cults won out. And honestly, the true crime podcaster storyline wasn't as prevalent as the blurb leads you to believe. Unfortunately, the cult part was lukewarm at best.
It felt like the author read a "5 Fun Facts About Cults" article in Teen Vogue and stopped her research there. She repeated the same shit (love bombing x 11, cult leaders prey on our insecurities, cult members are lost souls looking for belonging) again and again in an info-dumpy fashion. No show, all tell. And when Dom's POV randomly enters the chat around 65%, we're forced to endure the "How to become a cult leader" Ted Talk that, as Karly put it, sounded like a Wikipedia page. Nothing was subtle.
I hate to say this, but it was extremely difficult to empathize with Claire and Laurel despite the horrors they faced. I really can't explain why Claire was so unlikeable. Every time she made an unprovoked critique of another female character's looks, I tried to remind myself Claire had been through it, and therefore she wasn't in the right mind. But... I still wanted to stomp all over her garden out of pettiness. Idk. Maybe someone more intelligent and analytical can explain why Claire needed to catch these hands.
Lots of little plot lines and character details didn't add up. I won't get into spoilers but Laurel...... gwurl lmao. Bffr with that escape plan. You wanted to be caught. And when the author said Jock (yes... J-O-C-K) is the Americanized version of Jacques, I nearly filed a complaint on change.org. Jacques = Jack. Why the flying fk would you Americanize it to Jock. JACK IS IN THE NAME????? Help.
Anyways. The ending really solidified this as a one star. Again, no spoilers. But the baddie reveal...... keep it in the drafts. And Henry???? So we're just gonna ignore that he's an emotionally abusive and controlling husband???? K. Bye.
Still waiting on the cult banger of 2024.
pros & cons
pros: fun buddy read with Karly
cons: repetitive, bland storytelling, hated the baddie reveal, every pov sounded the same, math didn't math, podcast storyline was dropped for a bit and came back with a vengeance at the end — wish it hadn't though, Claire and Laurel were unlikeable when they shouldn't have been, happy ending with the abusive husband wtf was THAT ???
tysm crooked lane books for the arc
__
Check out my YouTube
my opinion
MAY HAS BEEN A ROUGH MONTH FOR ME. PLS SEND HELP.
The good: I had a very successful buddy read with Karly and the cover is one of the best in the thriller genre.
The bad: This was... confusing and relentlessly repetitive to say the least. If I was being harsh, I'd say it was ass. I'm going with confusing instead.
I LOVE cult books but I'm so over the true crime podcaster trope. Still, my love for cults won out. And honestly, the true crime podcaster storyline wasn't as prevalent as the blurb leads you to believe. Unfortunately, the cult part was lukewarm at best.
It felt like the author read a "5 Fun Facts About Cults" article in Teen Vogue and stopped her research there. She repeated the same shit (love bombing x 11, cult leaders prey on our insecurities, cult members are lost souls looking for belonging) again and again in an info-dumpy fashion. No show, all tell. And when Dom's POV randomly enters the chat around 65%, we're forced to endure the "How to become a cult leader" Ted Talk that, as Karly put it, sounded like a Wikipedia page. Nothing was subtle.
I hate to say this, but it was extremely difficult to empathize with Claire and Laurel despite the horrors they faced. I really can't explain why Claire was so unlikeable. Every time she made an unprovoked critique of another female character's looks, I tried to remind myself Claire had been through it, and therefore she wasn't in the right mind. But... I still wanted to stomp all over her garden out of pettiness. Idk. Maybe someone more intelligent and analytical can explain why Claire needed to catch these hands.
Lots of little plot lines and character details didn't add up. I won't get into spoilers but Laurel...... gwurl lmao. Bffr with that escape plan. You wanted to be caught. And when the author said Jock (yes... J-O-C-K) is the Americanized version of Jacques, I nearly filed a complaint on change.org. Jacques = Jack. Why the flying fk would you Americanize it to Jock. JACK IS IN THE NAME????? Help.
Anyways. The ending really solidified this as a one star. Again, no spoilers. But the baddie reveal...... keep it in the drafts. And Henry???? So we're just gonna ignore that he's an emotionally abusive and controlling husband???? K. Bye.
Still waiting on the cult banger of 2024.
pros & cons
pros: fun buddy read with Karly
cons: repetitive, bland storytelling, hated the baddie reveal, every pov sounded the same, math didn't math, podcast storyline was dropped for a bit and came back with a vengeance at the end — wish it hadn't though, Claire and Laurel were unlikeable when they shouldn't have been, happy ending with the abusive husband wtf was THAT ???
tysm crooked lane books for the arc
__
Check out my YouTube
August 17, 2024
EXCERPT: The mosquitos are out now, swarming my sticky, unwashed legs. Night's gathering fast in the shady nooks under the trees. I don't hurry to the garage.
A bony rabbit's foot dangles from the keyring. I try four keys, and the last one works. Before I push open the door, I notice that the sparrows and the starlings are loudest here. All the birds, it seems, talk over one another, just like the girls in the Flock.
I hear the low hum as I open the door. Both vans, idling inside.
ABOUT 'ONLY THE GUILTY SURVIVE': The mass suicide of a cult known as The Flock sent shockwaves through the small rural town of Iola, Michigan. Led by the charismatic Dominic Bragg, The Flock camped at an abandoned bird sanctuary before their sudden and shocking demise. The deaths came just weeks after one of their members, Laurel Tai, a local pageant queen, was abducted. The town turned its blame and fear onto the sole survivor, Claire Kettler–Laurel’s best friend. Burdened by grief and unanswered questions about her friend’s murder and her fellow cult members’ deaths, Claire can’t help but wonder what really happened, especially when the cult leader is nowhere to be found. When podcaster Arlo Stone begins poking around ten years later, determined to uncover the truth about the cult and Laurel’s murder, Claire is propelled back into action. In a desperate attempt to puzzle out the past and keep her secrets from being spilled for the entertainment of thousands of listeners, Claire must dig into a tangle of unanswered questions before time runs out and history repeats itself.
MY THOUGHTS: It's well known that I don't like books about cults. BUT, I just loved Kate Robards first book, The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard and, unfortunately, that overrode any reservations I may have had about reading Only the Guilty Survive.
Oh, where do I start? Firstly by saying that I absolutely hate writing negative reviews, but I was tempted so many times to simply stop reading this. Indeed, if it hadn't been a title I had nominated for a reading challenge, I believe I would have abandoned it.
I couldn't engage with Claire, the main character or, for that matter, any of the other characters. Laurel was the most relatable character. Dom drove me nuts. Why anyone would think of him as charismatic is beyond me.
The Flock and the cult story is the predominant one in the book; the podcast takes a very secondary role which is not what I was expecting at all. I believe the book would have been much stronger had the focus been on the podcast, the podcaster and what was revealed.
The 'mystery' re Laurel's fate was also swamped by a lot of confusing waffle - repetitive, confusing waffle - until I honestly didn't care what had happened to her.
And the ending? The less said about that, the better.
My recommendation? - don't drink the Cool-Aid. Ignore this absolutely stunning book cover and move on.
Will I return to this author? Definitely. The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard was a great read. I hope she can pull it off again.
⭐.5
#OnlytheGuiltySurvive #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Kate Robards holds a degree in journalism and works in communications at a nonprofit organization. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Only the Guilty Survive by Kate Robards for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
A bony rabbit's foot dangles from the keyring. I try four keys, and the last one works. Before I push open the door, I notice that the sparrows and the starlings are loudest here. All the birds, it seems, talk over one another, just like the girls in the Flock.
I hear the low hum as I open the door. Both vans, idling inside.
ABOUT 'ONLY THE GUILTY SURVIVE': The mass suicide of a cult known as The Flock sent shockwaves through the small rural town of Iola, Michigan. Led by the charismatic Dominic Bragg, The Flock camped at an abandoned bird sanctuary before their sudden and shocking demise. The deaths came just weeks after one of their members, Laurel Tai, a local pageant queen, was abducted. The town turned its blame and fear onto the sole survivor, Claire Kettler–Laurel’s best friend. Burdened by grief and unanswered questions about her friend’s murder and her fellow cult members’ deaths, Claire can’t help but wonder what really happened, especially when the cult leader is nowhere to be found. When podcaster Arlo Stone begins poking around ten years later, determined to uncover the truth about the cult and Laurel’s murder, Claire is propelled back into action. In a desperate attempt to puzzle out the past and keep her secrets from being spilled for the entertainment of thousands of listeners, Claire must dig into a tangle of unanswered questions before time runs out and history repeats itself.
MY THOUGHTS: It's well known that I don't like books about cults. BUT, I just loved Kate Robards first book, The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard and, unfortunately, that overrode any reservations I may have had about reading Only the Guilty Survive.
Oh, where do I start? Firstly by saying that I absolutely hate writing negative reviews, but I was tempted so many times to simply stop reading this. Indeed, if it hadn't been a title I had nominated for a reading challenge, I believe I would have abandoned it.
I couldn't engage with Claire, the main character or, for that matter, any of the other characters. Laurel was the most relatable character. Dom drove me nuts. Why anyone would think of him as charismatic is beyond me.
The Flock and the cult story is the predominant one in the book; the podcast takes a very secondary role which is not what I was expecting at all. I believe the book would have been much stronger had the focus been on the podcast, the podcaster and what was revealed.
The 'mystery' re Laurel's fate was also swamped by a lot of confusing waffle - repetitive, confusing waffle - until I honestly didn't care what had happened to her.
And the ending? The less said about that, the better.
My recommendation? - don't drink the Cool-Aid. Ignore this absolutely stunning book cover and move on.
Will I return to this author? Definitely. The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard was a great read. I hope she can pull it off again.
⭐.5
#OnlytheGuiltySurvive #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Kate Robards holds a degree in journalism and works in communications at a nonprofit organization. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Only the Guilty Survive by Kate Robards for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 18, 2024
In Only the Guilty Survive, Claire, the only survivor of a cult known as The Flock, must re-examine the tragic events that happened a decade earlier, including the disappearance of her best friend, Laurel, when a podcaster arrives in town to investigate the case.
The Reader is treated to Claire's perspective in the present, Laurel's perspective in the past, and another perspective, which I'll keep mum on for spoiler's sake.
The back-and-forth between the women was a good way to tell the story. Claire, in the present, has very hazy recollections of her time within The Flock, so Laurel's past perspective is really essential for building that aspect out.
This is a fine book. It does nothing wrong. It tells a story that I feel like a lot of Readers will have fun with. For me though, the mystery just wasn't engaging enough to feel invested in. It didn't pull me in.
The character work was fine and I did think that Laurel's past perspective showcasing the lives of those within The Flock was fairly interesting. Overall though, it did nothing to make it memorable, or really stand out for me in this genre.
I think if you are looking for some light entertainment, or a story you can easily fit into your weekend schedule, this could be a good selection. I did feel the audiobook narration was strong and would suggest that format.
Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm glad I gave this one a shot!
The Reader is treated to Claire's perspective in the present, Laurel's perspective in the past, and another perspective, which I'll keep mum on for spoiler's sake.
The back-and-forth between the women was a good way to tell the story. Claire, in the present, has very hazy recollections of her time within The Flock, so Laurel's past perspective is really essential for building that aspect out.
This is a fine book. It does nothing wrong. It tells a story that I feel like a lot of Readers will have fun with. For me though, the mystery just wasn't engaging enough to feel invested in. It didn't pull me in.
The character work was fine and I did think that Laurel's past perspective showcasing the lives of those within The Flock was fairly interesting. Overall though, it did nothing to make it memorable, or really stand out for me in this genre.
I think if you are looking for some light entertainment, or a story you can easily fit into your weekend schedule, this could be a good selection. I did feel the audiobook narration was strong and would suggest that format.
Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm glad I gave this one a shot!
March 10, 2024
“Only the Guilty Survive: a Thriller” by Kate Robards follows the story of Claire, a former member of a cult named The Flock that turned suicidal. The book switches back and forth between present day Claire, struggling to wrestle with her past and to clear her name as suspicion grows, and in the past Lollie, Claire’s friend in The Flock that was murdered.
I am no expert on cults and their leaders, but I felt through reading this book that it is evident that Robards did her research. The dynamics of The Flock were perfectly crafted. It was clearly demonstrated why the members became members. Aspects like how they were recruited and how they were kept under the leader’s control were discussed at length. I really appreciated that the story did not look down about the people in the Flock.
Robards crafted an immersive story with complex characters. I could imagine myself at the Bird Haven. The storyline flowed well, even though there were multiple point of views. I particularly enjoyed Robards’ characterization of the main character Claire. Her struggles with PTSD and conflicting emotions regarding her past were well done.
SPOILERS OF ENDING BELOW!!!!!
My least favorite part of this story was the ending. It did not seem to necessarily coincide with Claire throughout the rest of the story. It also seemed like it was just done for shock factor. I wish the story had just ended with the sentence ““Birds of a Feather” followers are left wondering why, out of everyone, I lived, and where is Dominic Bragg?”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am no expert on cults and their leaders, but I felt through reading this book that it is evident that Robards did her research. The dynamics of The Flock were perfectly crafted. It was clearly demonstrated why the members became members. Aspects like how they were recruited and how they were kept under the leader’s control were discussed at length. I really appreciated that the story did not look down about the people in the Flock.
Robards crafted an immersive story with complex characters. I could imagine myself at the Bird Haven. The storyline flowed well, even though there were multiple point of views. I particularly enjoyed Robards’ characterization of the main character Claire. Her struggles with PTSD and conflicting emotions regarding her past were well done.
SPOILERS OF ENDING BELOW!!!!!
My least favorite part of this story was the ending. It did not seem to necessarily coincide with Claire throughout the rest of the story. It also seemed like it was just done for shock factor. I wish the story had just ended with the sentence ““Birds of a Feather” followers are left wondering why, out of everyone, I lived, and where is Dominic Bragg?”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 12, 2024
I wanted to enjoy this book so much more than I actually did. I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator did a good job with trying to bring the story to life. I struggled the most with the main character Claire. She fell flat and all of her relationships felt abusive and she seemed forever stuck a young adult pulled in by a narcissist. The ending had me pretty frustrated honestly. I thought there were some huge leaps in deductions and some clues that were missed by Claire. I liked Lolly’s character, but it was hard to get too invested when you knew what happens to her. The story had a lot of potential, I just wanted a little more. Claire joined a cult when she was a freshman of college, the bird haven. She left the cult after all of the members committed suicide and the leader disappeared. The story is told from a few different perspectives in both the past and present. One member had been murdered just before the mass suicide and Claire was the only survivor. No one ever solved the murder and Claire’s memories were scattered and she was told trying to regain them could do her damage. No one believed Claire’s excuse of not remembering what had happened and the town hated her, but it has faded with time. Until a podcaster came to town to revive interest in the story and try to solve the case. Overall I gave this one 2.5 stars rounded up.
May 17, 2024
My Rating: 1⭐️ this was just everything I never wanted!!
I am not going to do a synopsis wrap up… and I am going to try to keep this spoiler free, but it annoyed me so much.
The best part of this book was my super fun Buddy Read with Lit with Leigh on Storygraph, we are in two very different time zones and could read together and have a laugh 🩷
The worst part was this book… Leigh got me hooked on cult books and we are constantly trying to find the next best one. And let me be here to tell you this was not it… this was not even close to being it.
I don’t actually have any positives about the book itself, it was repetitive, nonsensical, annoying and had plot holes as big as craters. There were loose ends galore for things that had no bearing on the story and some of the most unlikeable chracters that you were supposed to root for… it was actually just so bad.
Claire, our MC, was insufferable. We were supposed to feel sorry for her, the only one left alive when the cult mass suicided but what we had was a character that was written in such a way that you wanted to tell her to STFU at every turn. She was in a controlling relationship with her husband and while you would think, yeah legit this is definitely going to happen after being in a cult… but no redemption came from it. Henry the jerk face just got to keep on jerk facing… and it felt like halfway through the book the author decided he was even annoying her so she wrote him out for a bit only to bring him back to keep on being a massive jerk face.
Claire did some of the biggest citizen gone rogue dumbass things ever and she just generally annoyed me.
Laurel (or Lollie) again we were supposed to sympathise with her… but she was eyes wide open after a certain point and had every opportunity to escape but the author decided that the way for her to escape was the most ridiculous way… it made literally no sense at all. I wont go into it because well i did say no spoilers… but my goodness… yes this is fiction but … really!!!
There was the podcast angle which to be honest was almost non existent but when it was there was so annoying it made me want to chuck my kindle into the sink and turn on the garbage disposal… thankfully its broken…. But this book tested me.
I was so disappointed in the lack of cult research done in this novel, it was seriously like the author decided to google search the top 10 most famous cult leaders of history, name drop them without reading anything about them, tell us a million times that in the most basic of terms … the best way to keep the cult in line is to love bomb them and gaslight them and keep them hungry so they cant fight you… all of this was described like a 12 year old wrote a Wikipedia page on it and said… yeahhhh thats good stuff and hit post!!
I really could go on and on… but I think you get the picture… I didn’t like this… I wouldn’t recommend it and overall I just found it a waste of time. And after all that the worst possible baddie at the ending … I wont give it away… but my kindle is lucky … so lucky it’s not out the window. Oh and to top it all off the book was under 300 pages but felt like it was over 600… never a good sign.
The buddy read thankfully saved me… but if I wasn’t reading with Leigh I would have DNF’d this book so quick…
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am not going to do a synopsis wrap up… and I am going to try to keep this spoiler free, but it annoyed me so much.
The best part of this book was my super fun Buddy Read with Lit with Leigh on Storygraph, we are in two very different time zones and could read together and have a laugh 🩷
The worst part was this book… Leigh got me hooked on cult books and we are constantly trying to find the next best one. And let me be here to tell you this was not it… this was not even close to being it.
I don’t actually have any positives about the book itself, it was repetitive, nonsensical, annoying and had plot holes as big as craters. There were loose ends galore for things that had no bearing on the story and some of the most unlikeable chracters that you were supposed to root for… it was actually just so bad.
Claire, our MC, was insufferable. We were supposed to feel sorry for her, the only one left alive when the cult mass suicided but what we had was a character that was written in such a way that you wanted to tell her to STFU at every turn. She was in a controlling relationship with her husband and while you would think, yeah legit this is definitely going to happen after being in a cult… but no redemption came from it. Henry the jerk face just got to keep on jerk facing… and it felt like halfway through the book the author decided he was even annoying her so she wrote him out for a bit only to bring him back to keep on being a massive jerk face.
Claire did some of the biggest citizen gone rogue dumbass things ever and she just generally annoyed me.
Laurel (or Lollie) again we were supposed to sympathise with her… but she was eyes wide open after a certain point and had every opportunity to escape but the author decided that the way for her to escape was the most ridiculous way… it made literally no sense at all. I wont go into it because well i did say no spoilers… but my goodness… yes this is fiction but … really!!!
There was the podcast angle which to be honest was almost non existent but when it was there was so annoying it made me want to chuck my kindle into the sink and turn on the garbage disposal… thankfully its broken…. But this book tested me.
I was so disappointed in the lack of cult research done in this novel, it was seriously like the author decided to google search the top 10 most famous cult leaders of history, name drop them without reading anything about them, tell us a million times that in the most basic of terms … the best way to keep the cult in line is to love bomb them and gaslight them and keep them hungry so they cant fight you… all of this was described like a 12 year old wrote a Wikipedia page on it and said… yeahhhh thats good stuff and hit post!!
I really could go on and on… but I think you get the picture… I didn’t like this… I wouldn’t recommend it and overall I just found it a waste of time. And after all that the worst possible baddie at the ending … I wont give it away… but my kindle is lucky … so lucky it’s not out the window. Oh and to top it all off the book was under 300 pages but felt like it was over 600… never a good sign.
The buddy read thankfully saved me… but if I wasn’t reading with Leigh I would have DNF’d this book so quick…
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2024
This intriguing cult-thriller is narrated by multiple POVs in various time periods and walks you through how a single person survived the cult while 14 others perished. Claire, the only survivor of Dominic Bragg/cult leader, doesn’t remember much of what happened during her time in the cult, “the Flock”. She pivots between current time and ten years prior when she walked away from her family and joined The Flock in Bird Haven.
All of her repressed past comes to life when a podcaster comes to town to investigate what happened a decade prior. Though she had attempted to stay out of the limelight, this new energy and interest in the case uncovers secrets and exposes what really happened while under the influence of “Dom”. As her past and present merge together, Claire starts looking for anything that can connect the dots and explain how one of her friends from Bird Haven was murdered.
I found the premise of “Only The Guilty Survive” interesting and was excited to read this ARC through NetGalley. The author did an amazing job of building up how the cult started, how members joined, and ultimately how the leader, “Dom”, was able to take control of the members to bend at his will.
I was hoping for so much more from this book. The beginning was so intriguing and developed so well. I struggled to find interest in the “present day” chapters as it was mundane in comparison to the other timeline. I felt like so much time was spent understanding the cult and all the ins and outs, that the ending fell flat. I LOVED the last page and look forward to a sequel hopefully. I would be interested in the author taking the information from this book and bringing it up to date with the current time period.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to others. 3/5 stars. As always, thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review this ARC!
All of her repressed past comes to life when a podcaster comes to town to investigate what happened a decade prior. Though she had attempted to stay out of the limelight, this new energy and interest in the case uncovers secrets and exposes what really happened while under the influence of “Dom”. As her past and present merge together, Claire starts looking for anything that can connect the dots and explain how one of her friends from Bird Haven was murdered.
I found the premise of “Only The Guilty Survive” interesting and was excited to read this ARC through NetGalley. The author did an amazing job of building up how the cult started, how members joined, and ultimately how the leader, “Dom”, was able to take control of the members to bend at his will.
I was hoping for so much more from this book. The beginning was so intriguing and developed so well. I struggled to find interest in the “present day” chapters as it was mundane in comparison to the other timeline. I felt like so much time was spent understanding the cult and all the ins and outs, that the ending fell flat. I LOVED the last page and look forward to a sequel hopefully. I would be interested in the author taking the information from this book and bringing it up to date with the current time period.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to others. 3/5 stars. As always, thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review this ARC!
September 6, 2024
Claire ran away from home and joined a cult. She was strongly influenced by the charismatic cult leader Dominic. The flock ended in a mass suicide and 10 years later Claire has a lot of questions about what happened. Her best friend Lollie went missing, the flock women were found dead and Dominic went missing all within a few weeks . Claire is desperately trying to peace together what happened and how it’s all connected.
I thought the premise of the book sounded really interesting. I like books involving cults and the idea of a podcaster trying to track down the cult leader felt promising. The execution of the plot didn’t work well for me. It bothered me that Claire claimed to have no memory or idea of what happened. That seemed really convenient. The book was too slow and there weren’t a lot of developments until the final chapter. I also hated the chapters from the perspective of Dominic. He was rambling nonsense and repetitive drivel about controlling people and becoming a notorious cult leader. It was insufferable and didn’t really add to the story. I did finish this book but I wasn’t very impressed.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.
I thought the premise of the book sounded really interesting. I like books involving cults and the idea of a podcaster trying to track down the cult leader felt promising. The execution of the plot didn’t work well for me. It bothered me that Claire claimed to have no memory or idea of what happened. That seemed really convenient. The book was too slow and there weren’t a lot of developments until the final chapter. I also hated the chapters from the perspective of Dominic. He was rambling nonsense and repetitive drivel about controlling people and becoming a notorious cult leader. It was insufferable and didn’t really add to the story. I did finish this book but I wasn’t very impressed.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.
August 19, 2024
Only the Guilty Survive by Kate Robards
Claire is the only survivor of a cult called the Flock…. There has always been an air of wonder around her.. How did she survive? Did she do something to the rest of the cult? What really happened to her friends and will remembering help her or hurt her?
Um… OK so I love the idea of a cult. I also understand the logic of having the past and present… Claire POV is the present but not in the past, which is a little weird as far as cohesion to the story but ok.. Let’s move past that. Claire cannot remember what happened and how she survived. The story doesn’t move very fast but there are some super interesting themes that kept me engaged enough to make the book decent.
I didn’t like Claire, which is a huge thumbs down for me, even though I understand the author was going for an unreliable narrator, I find you still have to find a connection to the character and she irritated me a lot. I liked the past better than the present day and the twist was a little uninspiring but there was enough here to entertain anyone who likes a good cult book. 3.75 stars.
Claire is the only survivor of a cult called the Flock…. There has always been an air of wonder around her.. How did she survive? Did she do something to the rest of the cult? What really happened to her friends and will remembering help her or hurt her?
Um… OK so I love the idea of a cult. I also understand the logic of having the past and present… Claire POV is the present but not in the past, which is a little weird as far as cohesion to the story but ok.. Let’s move past that. Claire cannot remember what happened and how she survived. The story doesn’t move very fast but there are some super interesting themes that kept me engaged enough to make the book decent.
I didn’t like Claire, which is a huge thumbs down for me, even though I understand the author was going for an unreliable narrator, I find you still have to find a connection to the character and she irritated me a lot. I liked the past better than the present day and the twist was a little uninspiring but there was enough here to entertain anyone who likes a good cult book. 3.75 stars.
July 17, 2024
(( audiobook ))
Claire is the only survivor of a doomsday cult (The Flock) that fell apart when one of the members (Lauren/Lolly) was murdered and the cult came under public scrutiny. She still lives in the small college town where she grew up and everyone hates her, and now a podcaster is investigating the cult and Lolly's death, so Claire is back in the spotlight and trying to remember/figure out what exactly happened to her cult pals.
No spoilers, so I'm going to be extremely vague here and say I did not like Claire and thought the eventual explanation for what happened didn't make much sense. Claire was a total dingdong and extremely hard to root for. Her husband was horrible. Her dad was a jerk. Why did she stay in the tiny town where everyone hated her? The explanation for what happened to Lolly made zero sense. The person who did the thing had MANY better options to get the result they were going for instead of doing what they did. The podcast angle was underutilized. I usually enjoy hearing from the bad guy, but the sections told from Dom (the cult leader)'s perspective were ridiculous. Lit with Leigh's review hilariously roasts his shit 100x better than I can, so go read it!
I was hoping for something along the lines of Listen for the Lie because of the small town + podcast + dead friend + is she a survivor or perpetrator? (plus a bonus cult!) and this was... not it. I do think readers who enjoyed A History of Wild Places (aka: NOT ME) might like this (?) much more than I did.
* thanks to Dreamscape Media for the NetGalley ALC. Only the Guilty Survive publishes August 6.
Claire is the only survivor of a doomsday cult (The Flock) that fell apart when one of the members (Lauren/Lolly) was murdered and the cult came under public scrutiny. She still lives in the small college town where she grew up and everyone hates her, and now a podcaster is investigating the cult and Lolly's death, so Claire is back in the spotlight and trying to remember/figure out what exactly happened to her cult pals.
No spoilers, so I'm going to be extremely vague here and say I did not like Claire and thought the eventual explanation for what happened didn't make much sense. Claire was a total dingdong and extremely hard to root for. Her husband was horrible. Her dad was a jerk. Why did she stay in the tiny town where everyone hated her? The explanation for what happened to Lolly made zero sense. The person who did the thing had MANY better options to get the result they were going for instead of doing what they did. The podcast angle was underutilized. I usually enjoy hearing from the bad guy, but the sections told from Dom (the cult leader)'s perspective were ridiculous. Lit with Leigh's review hilariously roasts his shit 100x better than I can, so go read it!
I was hoping for something along the lines of Listen for the Lie because of the small town + podcast + dead friend + is she a survivor or perpetrator? (plus a bonus cult!) and this was... not it. I do think readers who enjoyed A History of Wild Places (aka: NOT ME) might like this (?) much more than I did.
* thanks to Dreamscape Media for the NetGalley ALC. Only the Guilty Survive publishes August 6.
August 13, 2024
3.75. This is mystery thriller with a podcast element as well as a mysterious cult related plot line!
The mass suicide of several cult members belonging to a group known as The Flock still hangs heavy over the small town it took place in. The group stayed at an abandoned bird sanctuary which is where the name comes from and is run by Dominic who embodies all of the typical traits of a cult leader. There is one survivor and her name is Claire. When a man with a podcast decides he’s going to take on the story, questions arise. Where is Dominic? Nobody has seen him since. And what does Claire know or remember? In an attempt to keep her life off of a public podcast for thousands to hear, Claire gets to work to get some of her own questions answered.
I thought this was a solid read! I really enjoy mysteries and thrillers that revolve around cults and cult leaders and this did not disappoint. I will say that the men in this book had me tearing my hair out and wanting to buy a punching bag, but I love it when an author can evoke feelings from me even when it’s hatred haha! This was a nice short read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kate Robards, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on August 6th.
The mass suicide of several cult members belonging to a group known as The Flock still hangs heavy over the small town it took place in. The group stayed at an abandoned bird sanctuary which is where the name comes from and is run by Dominic who embodies all of the typical traits of a cult leader. There is one survivor and her name is Claire. When a man with a podcast decides he’s going to take on the story, questions arise. Where is Dominic? Nobody has seen him since. And what does Claire know or remember? In an attempt to keep her life off of a public podcast for thousands to hear, Claire gets to work to get some of her own questions answered.
I thought this was a solid read! I really enjoy mysteries and thrillers that revolve around cults and cult leaders and this did not disappoint. I will say that the men in this book had me tearing my hair out and wanting to buy a punching bag, but I love it when an author can evoke feelings from me even when it’s hatred haha! This was a nice short read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kate Robards, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on August 6th.
October 14, 2025
A cult ending in mass suicide with one survivor — sounded right up my alley. Too bad the ending ruined it and I have more questions than answers!!! So annoyed
August 2, 2024
For a cult book, it wasn't bad. I don't usually pick up cult books as I dislike them and think they are overused, but how could I say no to this cover? The end felt a bit rushed and jumbled, and I feel like finding out the 'killer' wasn't even a big deal.
July 22, 2024
Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook ARC!
Who doesn't love a culty thriller?! I was invested in this story from the beginning, and my interest never left.
This book was written in a multi-POV structure, and has the character depth any reader will love. Although this book wasn't a 5-star change your brain chemistry type of read, I very much enjoyed this book! Highly recommend.
Who doesn't love a culty thriller?! I was invested in this story from the beginning, and my interest never left.
This book was written in a multi-POV structure, and has the character depth any reader will love. Although this book wasn't a 5-star change your brain chemistry type of read, I very much enjoyed this book! Highly recommend.
October 10, 2024
the blurb lead me to believe the podcast would be a more central part of the story but it’s not and i feel like that was definitely a missed opportunity. cults genuinely scare the shit out of me and in some ways The Flock made me feel that way and in others it just had me like ????🤨🙃 the set up was really great but the execution was poor and underwhelming. the prologue, dual timelines, POVs, and the audiobook were what kept me engaged enough to finish. it’s just unfortunate that it ended up being a bit of a let down! 😞
October 28, 2024
Claire, surrounded by bad relationships, joined a cult. Now it's a decade later, the rest of the cult is dead, and she is still surrounded with bad relationships. Claire is insufferable and inconsistent in her recollection and actions. I didn't care what happened to her. The cult leader, Dominic, is whiny and mentally unstable and I'm not sure why anyone would ever follow him. The only interesting character was Lilly, and she was already dead, telling her story from a past point of view. Robards is a good writer, but this story fell flat for me. 2.5 ⭐ rounding up.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for my copy of this audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for my copy of this audiobook.
January 13, 2025
Decent plot but lame ending for multiple reasons
April 23, 2024
Ten years ago, members of the cult, the Flock, perished from a mass suicide after one of their own, Lollie, was abducted and killed. Their charismatic leader, Dom, disappeared after the suicides and has never been found. The only survivor, Claire, has repressed her memories of the event and was heavily blamed because she was the only one left. She doesn't speak to anyone about it, not even her husband.
A podcaster, Arlo, comes to town and starts investigating the Flock for his new true-crime podcast, Birds of a Feather, and it forces Claire to relive the experience and try to find out if she remembers anything and if she can find out who killed Lollie before Arlo blames her again.
Robards tells the story through flashbacks to the time of the cult with Lollie (Laurel) and Dom sharing the POV and Claire's POV in the present time. Robards has obviously researched well into cults and how they form and I found those timelines very engaging, despite knowing the outcome.
I found myself really engaged with Laurel's story and my heart broke for her while she was trying to leave the cult. I thought Robards did an amazing job with Claire as well because she's ultimately a flawed character and you're not quite sure how much to believe and how much to sympathise with her at times. The ending threw me a bit but it really suited the book well.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A podcaster, Arlo, comes to town and starts investigating the Flock for his new true-crime podcast, Birds of a Feather, and it forces Claire to relive the experience and try to find out if she remembers anything and if she can find out who killed Lollie before Arlo blames her again.
Robards tells the story through flashbacks to the time of the cult with Lollie (Laurel) and Dom sharing the POV and Claire's POV in the present time. Robards has obviously researched well into cults and how they form and I found those timelines very engaging, despite knowing the outcome.
I found myself really engaged with Laurel's story and my heart broke for her while she was trying to leave the cult. I thought Robards did an amazing job with Claire as well because she's ultimately a flawed character and you're not quite sure how much to believe and how much to sympathise with her at times. The ending threw me a bit but it really suited the book well.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2024
I loved this book. I enjoyed every second of reading it and often stayed up way too late to read just one more chapter. I loved the cult storyline, dual timelines, and multiple POVs. It was interesting to learn how the cult leader thought and made his decisions throughout.
I also just can’t stop thinking about it. That makes an incredible 5 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the opportunity to read this!
I also just can’t stop thinking about it. That makes an incredible 5 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the opportunity to read this!
August 13, 2024
This was a 3* until the the end. It felt as though we were rushed to tie all the threads together right up to the last sentence and instead were left with a last ditch effort to conclude with a note of mystery and intrigue.
I enjoyed the chapters set within the cult, everything else seemed to fall short.
I enjoyed the chapters set within the cult, everything else seemed to fall short.
November 22, 2024
It was a solid three-star read until the ending. What kind of ending was that?! The podcast element was lacking all around, and the repetitiveness (and again, all for that ending) made it all the worse. If you have the chance of reading this one, skip it.
August 1, 2024
3.5 stars
From the book description:
“The mass suicide of a cult known as The Flock sent shockwaves through the small rural town of Iola, Michigan. Led by the charismatic Dominic Bragg, The Flock camped at an abandoned bird sanctuary before their sudden and shocking demise. The deaths came just weeks after one of their members, Laurel Tai, a local pageant queen, was abducted. The town turned its blame and fear onto the sole survivor, Claire Kettler–Laurel’s best friend. Burdened by grief and unanswered questions about her friend’s murder and her fellow cult members’ deaths, Claire can’t help but wonder what really happened, especially when the cult leader is nowhere to be found. When podcaster Arlo Stone begins poking around ten years later, determined to uncover the truth about the cult and Laurel’s murder, Claire is propelled back into action. In a desperate attempt to puzzle out the past and keep her secrets from being spilled for the entertainment of thousands of listeners, Claire must dig into a tangle of unanswered questions before time runs out and history repeats itself. ”
This book is told in two parts from two perspectives in each part: Both parts feature Claire’s perspective in the present day; Part 1 feature’s Laurel’s perspective leading up to her disappearance in the past, while Part 2 features Dom’s view leading up to the Flock’s death in the past.
This book was hard to rate for me. Reading the description the book immediately intrigued me and it was really well written, hooking me immediately, with both the past and the present stories. I loved both the mystery of what was happening at the Bird Sanctuary under Dom (the cult leader/guru), because you realize immediately that something is ominously wrong- and not just because we already know that the group will be found dead at the end of the summer; but also the present-day story of Claire and her inability to cope with her past.
It was really a great set-up for a mystery/thriller that had some parts that came together really well.
Butttttt……some didn’t. And they landed really, really flat. I don’t want to spoil anything, but some of the main mystery solution is really, quite frankly, dull. Like, it comes out of nowhere and just, kind of, happens. And I had no emotional investment in it after everything. Like seriously? That was it?
But Another part did hit some of the right notes and left me with the chills. But also some questions…..it needed some more explanation based on the rest of the story. Like, based on the rest of what we read, it didn’t quite fit without more context, even though it was good. I’ll give you that, it was good.
So yeah, this was a great book overall, but the ending needed maybe some more tweaking. Which dampens it a little bit, because the ending is, well, important.
But it’s still very worth reading. I’d recommend it.
From the book description:
“The mass suicide of a cult known as The Flock sent shockwaves through the small rural town of Iola, Michigan. Led by the charismatic Dominic Bragg, The Flock camped at an abandoned bird sanctuary before their sudden and shocking demise. The deaths came just weeks after one of their members, Laurel Tai, a local pageant queen, was abducted. The town turned its blame and fear onto the sole survivor, Claire Kettler–Laurel’s best friend. Burdened by grief and unanswered questions about her friend’s murder and her fellow cult members’ deaths, Claire can’t help but wonder what really happened, especially when the cult leader is nowhere to be found. When podcaster Arlo Stone begins poking around ten years later, determined to uncover the truth about the cult and Laurel’s murder, Claire is propelled back into action. In a desperate attempt to puzzle out the past and keep her secrets from being spilled for the entertainment of thousands of listeners, Claire must dig into a tangle of unanswered questions before time runs out and history repeats itself. ”
This book is told in two parts from two perspectives in each part: Both parts feature Claire’s perspective in the present day; Part 1 feature’s Laurel’s perspective leading up to her disappearance in the past, while Part 2 features Dom’s view leading up to the Flock’s death in the past.
This book was hard to rate for me. Reading the description the book immediately intrigued me and it was really well written, hooking me immediately, with both the past and the present stories. I loved both the mystery of what was happening at the Bird Sanctuary under Dom (the cult leader/guru), because you realize immediately that something is ominously wrong- and not just because we already know that the group will be found dead at the end of the summer; but also the present-day story of Claire and her inability to cope with her past.
It was really a great set-up for a mystery/thriller that had some parts that came together really well.
Butttttt……some didn’t. And they landed really, really flat. I don’t want to spoil anything, but some of the main mystery solution is really, quite frankly, dull. Like, it comes out of nowhere and just, kind of, happens. And I had no emotional investment in it after everything. Like seriously? That was it?
But Another part did hit some of the right notes and left me with the chills. But also some questions…..it needed some more explanation based on the rest of the story. Like, based on the rest of what we read, it didn’t quite fit without more context, even though it was good. I’ll give you that, it was good.
So yeah, this was a great book overall, but the ending needed maybe some more tweaking. Which dampens it a little bit, because the ending is, well, important.
But it’s still very worth reading. I’d recommend it.
May 9, 2024
to be published on: august 6th
"Only the Guilty Survive" by Kate Robards presents a captivating premise rooted in the mystery surrounding a cult tragedy and its sole survivor. While the story initially suggests a focus on a podcast investigation into the tragic events, the narrative quickly shifts to Claire, the survivor, and her journey of remembering the past she claims to have forgotten.
The dual perspectives in the book create a complex narrative, following both present-day Claire and past Lollie, a cult victim. This structure adds depth to the story, offering contrasting views of the events leading up to the tragedy. When the narrative shifts to past Dominic, the cult leader, the story further deepens, allowing readers to glimpse into his influence and manipulations.
Although the premise is intriguing, the pacing of the story could have been more engaging. It takes time for the narrative to unravel, and some readers may find the pacing a bit slow. Despite this, the story's intricate layers and the way it unfolds keep the reader invested.
The characters in the book are challenging to connect with, often evoking mixed emotions. While the lack of likability may deter some readers, there's still an intriguing sense of empathy that arises as their stories are revealed. Lollie's flashbacks are particularly compelling, providing clarity and insight into the cult's inner workings.
The author's research into the cult's dynamics is thorough, successfully conveying how cult leaders manipulate their followers and maintain control even after the group's dissolution. This realism adds a chilling layer to the story, making it feel authentic and well-researched.
The open ending may not be to everyone's taste, as it leaves several questions unanswered. If you prefer clear, resolved conclusions, this book may not be the best fit. Nevertheless, for those who enjoy ambiguous endings and layered storytelling, "Only the Guilty Survive" offers a thought-provoking journey.
Ultimately, while "Only the Guilty Survive" is a decent read with moments of brilliance, it could have delivered more in terms of plot development and character connection. It leaves readers with a sense of potential unrealized, making it a good book that could have been great.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and the author for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Only the Guilty Survive" by Kate Robards presents a captivating premise rooted in the mystery surrounding a cult tragedy and its sole survivor. While the story initially suggests a focus on a podcast investigation into the tragic events, the narrative quickly shifts to Claire, the survivor, and her journey of remembering the past she claims to have forgotten.
The dual perspectives in the book create a complex narrative, following both present-day Claire and past Lollie, a cult victim. This structure adds depth to the story, offering contrasting views of the events leading up to the tragedy. When the narrative shifts to past Dominic, the cult leader, the story further deepens, allowing readers to glimpse into his influence and manipulations.
Although the premise is intriguing, the pacing of the story could have been more engaging. It takes time for the narrative to unravel, and some readers may find the pacing a bit slow. Despite this, the story's intricate layers and the way it unfolds keep the reader invested.
The characters in the book are challenging to connect with, often evoking mixed emotions. While the lack of likability may deter some readers, there's still an intriguing sense of empathy that arises as their stories are revealed. Lollie's flashbacks are particularly compelling, providing clarity and insight into the cult's inner workings.
The author's research into the cult's dynamics is thorough, successfully conveying how cult leaders manipulate their followers and maintain control even after the group's dissolution. This realism adds a chilling layer to the story, making it feel authentic and well-researched.
The open ending may not be to everyone's taste, as it leaves several questions unanswered. If you prefer clear, resolved conclusions, this book may not be the best fit. Nevertheless, for those who enjoy ambiguous endings and layered storytelling, "Only the Guilty Survive" offers a thought-provoking journey.
Ultimately, while "Only the Guilty Survive" is a decent read with moments of brilliance, it could have delivered more in terms of plot development and character connection. It leaves readers with a sense of potential unrealized, making it a good book that could have been great.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and the author for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2024
Beautiful cover and the plot was promising. I found the characters a little drab and the book a little slow moving. I did think the bones were good but I kept waiting for the book to really pick up and have more intensity than it did. There were moments that I thought were done well, but I kept wanting more, and sadly more times than not I felt it fell a little flat. The depth to characters was ok, the back and forth between points of view was good, and the ending did make sense but again did lack a little something. I don’t regret reading the book as I think it was fine, but just wasn’t great.
I would like to thank Kate Robards, NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this audiobook.
I would like to thank Kate Robards, NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this audiobook.
July 18, 2024
If you were into following the cults from the 60s and 70s. This is the book for you.
10 years ago Claire was the only survivor of a mass suicide in a cult started by Dom Bragg. Now with the start of a podcast, memories are being dug up.
This was an easy book to get into and read. I never felt bored as we went through the POVs in the past and present. We have Claire is who is an unreliable narrator as she doesn’t remember what happened 10 years ago. We also get POVs for a cult member and the leader himself.
The ending did fell slightly rushed and quickly wrapped up. I think I would have liked more build up and I felt like the “killer” wasn’t apart of the story until the end.
But the last chapter was pure gold.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 279
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
10 years ago Claire was the only survivor of a mass suicide in a cult started by Dom Bragg. Now with the start of a podcast, memories are being dug up.
This was an easy book to get into and read. I never felt bored as we went through the POVs in the past and present. We have Claire is who is an unreliable narrator as she doesn’t remember what happened 10 years ago. We also get POVs for a cult member and the leader himself.
The ending did fell slightly rushed and quickly wrapped up. I think I would have liked more build up and I felt like the “killer” wasn’t apart of the story until the end.
But the last chapter was pure gold.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 279
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
July 31, 2024
Beautiful cover, true crime podcasts and a cult!! This had me very excited to start this audiobook. I enjoyed the multiple POV’s. Claire the main character was a bit annoying in the beginning. I would have loved to have more of the Dominic’s POV. Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend to readers.
There were multiple narrators for the audiobook and all were fantastic.
**I listened to the audiobook but this cover is so beautiful I need it for my bookshelf*
Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for early access to this audiobook
There were multiple narrators for the audiobook and all were fantastic.
**I listened to the audiobook but this cover is so beautiful I need it for my bookshelf*
Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for early access to this audiobook
August 16, 2024
THE ENDING HAD MY JAW ON THE FLOOR.
March 11, 2024
ARC for review. To be published August 6, 2024.
The Flock was a cult led by Dominic Bragg in the small town of Iola, Michigan. Just a few weeks after one of their members Laurel “Lollie” Tai, a local pageant queen was kidnapped and found strangled the fourteen members of the cult committed mass suicide, except for Bragg, who was never found and Laurel’s best friend Claire Kettler, daughter of the local medical examiner and professor at the library Val college.
Ten years later Claire is a pariah is Iola and can’t understand what really happened. Now a podcaster, Arlo Stone has come to town to investigate the cult and Laurel’s murder. Claire is drawn back into the story and feels she is in a race against time to find answers.
The story is told in “then” and “now” chapters narrated by Laurel and Claire, with a few from Dominic’s point of view. I’m a big fan of any type of cult story, so I enjoyed those aspects of the book, and I like that parts of Dominic were true believer, parts pure user….most people have both sides, I think. The Claire of today frustrated me a lot as she appeared to have so little agency, and the end, which was, admittedly, a nice twist, was one I didn’t entirely grasp in context, I think. Overall a decent story, though.
The Flock was a cult led by Dominic Bragg in the small town of Iola, Michigan. Just a few weeks after one of their members Laurel “Lollie” Tai, a local pageant queen was kidnapped and found strangled the fourteen members of the cult committed mass suicide, except for Bragg, who was never found and Laurel’s best friend Claire Kettler, daughter of the local medical examiner and professor at the library Val college.
Ten years later Claire is a pariah is Iola and can’t understand what really happened. Now a podcaster, Arlo Stone has come to town to investigate the cult and Laurel’s murder. Claire is drawn back into the story and feels she is in a race against time to find answers.
The story is told in “then” and “now” chapters narrated by Laurel and Claire, with a few from Dominic’s point of view. I’m a big fan of any type of cult story, so I enjoyed those aspects of the book, and I like that parts of Dominic were true believer, parts pure user….most people have both sides, I think. The Claire of today frustrated me a lot as she appeared to have so little agency, and the end, which was, admittedly, a nice twist, was one I didn’t entirely grasp in context, I think. Overall a decent story, though.
July 21, 2024
ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Podcaster Arlo Stone is determined to uncover the truth about the infamous cult, The Flock. After all The Flock isn’t known just for its enigmatic and charismatic leader though but rather for its tragic end 10 years prior. Leaving only one survivor, Claire Kettler. As Arlo continues to poke the fragile wound that left the small rural Michigan town stunned, Claire begins to question what really happened all those years ago and if it’s truly safe to unraveling her lost memories.
Only the Guilty Survive is a cult whodunnit mystery/thriller told through multiple POV‘s ranging from present to past timelines. Admittedly, I’m easily grabbed by a cult story, add in a soul survivor who has a lost memory and you have me fully intrigued. While reading it becomes abundantly clear that author Kate Robards really did their due diligence and research when it came to creating a believable cult for this novel. The past scenes of The Flock’s early beginnings truly showcased the incredibly unsettling level of manipulation and control that these leaders have in these groups, which I found brought great depth to the overall narrative. However this left me also feeling as if the present timeline was a bit lacking compared and made the overall pacing feel uneven as it hopped back and force between the two. I will say that by 65% the pace does pick as we begin to see connections being made from our MC Claire. However, this almost then made it feel too quickly as the end seemed rushed. I personally just had hoped for a more steady building of tension and suspense with the end reveal. Overall I did enjoy the book but did not love it. I would still recommend it tho to fans of long unsolved mysteries and cult dynamics.
Only the Guilty Survive comes out August 6th, 2024.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Podcaster Arlo Stone is determined to uncover the truth about the infamous cult, The Flock. After all The Flock isn’t known just for its enigmatic and charismatic leader though but rather for its tragic end 10 years prior. Leaving only one survivor, Claire Kettler. As Arlo continues to poke the fragile wound that left the small rural Michigan town stunned, Claire begins to question what really happened all those years ago and if it’s truly safe to unraveling her lost memories.
Only the Guilty Survive is a cult whodunnit mystery/thriller told through multiple POV‘s ranging from present to past timelines. Admittedly, I’m easily grabbed by a cult story, add in a soul survivor who has a lost memory and you have me fully intrigued. While reading it becomes abundantly clear that author Kate Robards really did their due diligence and research when it came to creating a believable cult for this novel. The past scenes of The Flock’s early beginnings truly showcased the incredibly unsettling level of manipulation and control that these leaders have in these groups, which I found brought great depth to the overall narrative. However this left me also feeling as if the present timeline was a bit lacking compared and made the overall pacing feel uneven as it hopped back and force between the two. I will say that by 65% the pace does pick as we begin to see connections being made from our MC Claire. However, this almost then made it feel too quickly as the end seemed rushed. I personally just had hoped for a more steady building of tension and suspense with the end reveal. Overall I did enjoy the book but did not love it. I would still recommend it tho to fans of long unsolved mysteries and cult dynamics.
Only the Guilty Survive comes out August 6th, 2024.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 22, 2024
3.5 rounded down
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, featuring multiple points of view across different timelines, which kept things engaging. However, there were a few too many loose ends and underdeveloped characters for me to fully love it. Since I don’t often read books about cults, I can’t speak to how it compares within the genre.
I’m usually a fan of dual timelines, but in this case, I found the past from Lollie’s point of view to be far more compelling than the present-day scenes with Claire. The parts set inside the cult were intriguing and horrific, and despite knowing Lollie’s eventual fate, I found myself rooting for her escape. Claire’s perspective, on the other hand, felt underdeveloped and somewhat disconnected from the rest of the story. Her interactions with her husband and father were consistently unpleasant and toxic, and much of the plot’s forward momentum hinged on her uncovering simple clues that law enforcement had overlooked. Additionally, the fact that her drive to recover memories was sparked by a true crime podcaster investigating the cult, yet this angle ended up being minimally explored in the book, felt somewhat confusing. In the end, it felt underdeveloped and repetitive.
The ending, unfortunately, felt rushed and somewhat inauthentic, especially given Claire's lack of development throughout the book. Still, despite these issues, I found the novel to be relatively engaging overall, and I appreciated its atmospheric tension and the mystery surrounding the cult for what it was.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, featuring multiple points of view across different timelines, which kept things engaging. However, there were a few too many loose ends and underdeveloped characters for me to fully love it. Since I don’t often read books about cults, I can’t speak to how it compares within the genre.
I’m usually a fan of dual timelines, but in this case, I found the past from Lollie’s point of view to be far more compelling than the present-day scenes with Claire. The parts set inside the cult were intriguing and horrific, and despite knowing Lollie’s eventual fate, I found myself rooting for her escape. Claire’s perspective, on the other hand, felt underdeveloped and somewhat disconnected from the rest of the story. Her interactions with her husband and father were consistently unpleasant and toxic, and much of the plot’s forward momentum hinged on her uncovering simple clues that law enforcement had overlooked. Additionally, the fact that her drive to recover memories was sparked by a true crime podcaster investigating the cult, yet this angle ended up being minimally explored in the book, felt somewhat confusing. In the end, it felt underdeveloped and repetitive.
The ending, unfortunately, felt rushed and somewhat inauthentic, especially given Claire's lack of development throughout the book. Still, despite these issues, I found the novel to be relatively engaging overall, and I appreciated its atmospheric tension and the mystery surrounding the cult for what it was.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
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