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The Only One Who Knows
A failed TV news reporter with a talent for shark-fishing returns to her hometown just as bodies begin washing ashore in this nail-biting suspense novel from the author of The Stranger Upstairs.
Minnow Greenwood, previously known for stealing her way into the hearts of viewers as Melbourne’s number one morning show host, is now back in her small hometown of Kangaroo Bay. After a horrifying and unexpected episode, she has no choice but to join her estranged brother in their family business of shark fishing. For an insomniac like Minnow, the work is strangely thrilling—there’s something alluring about the dark water at night. Something exciting, grimy… fitting. And maybe it’s not even so bad reconnecting with her brother, who’s the only person who ever saw her for herself. But the last thing she expects to surface on the beach is a human body.
Kangaroo Bay is a town quietly brimming with rage towards invasive tourists and host to a disquieting number of shark attacks—there's no sympathy for the wayward swimmer. Except the media soon uncover that the victim was declared missing weeks before, and was long dead before they even entered the water. When the journalist in Minnow kicks back into drive, she discovers something for over forty years, there have been a steady number of missing persons around the area, including her own father’s disappearance ten years ago.
This is her one opportunity to reclaim her career as a journalist, and to learn what really happened to her father, but as Minnow digs deeper into the spate of missing tourists and the mystery of her father, she realizes someone is desperate to keep the secrets buried. . .and then another body washes ashore.
Minnow Greenwood, previously known for stealing her way into the hearts of viewers as Melbourne’s number one morning show host, is now back in her small hometown of Kangaroo Bay. After a horrifying and unexpected episode, she has no choice but to join her estranged brother in their family business of shark fishing. For an insomniac like Minnow, the work is strangely thrilling—there’s something alluring about the dark water at night. Something exciting, grimy… fitting. And maybe it’s not even so bad reconnecting with her brother, who’s the only person who ever saw her for herself. But the last thing she expects to surface on the beach is a human body.
Kangaroo Bay is a town quietly brimming with rage towards invasive tourists and host to a disquieting number of shark attacks—there's no sympathy for the wayward swimmer. Except the media soon uncover that the victim was declared missing weeks before, and was long dead before they even entered the water. When the journalist in Minnow kicks back into drive, she discovers something for over forty years, there have been a steady number of missing persons around the area, including her own father’s disappearance ten years ago.
This is her one opportunity to reclaim her career as a journalist, and to learn what really happened to her father, but as Minnow digs deeper into the spate of missing tourists and the mystery of her father, she realizes someone is desperate to keep the secrets buried. . .and then another body washes ashore.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2026
About the author
Lisa M. Matlin
2 books495 followersLisa M. Matlin was a guitarist in a band before switching from song writing to story writing.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her golden retriever. She’s probably rewatching The Walking Dead right now and trying not to laugh at her own jokes. Matlin is a passionate mental health advocate and your dog’s number one fan.
THE STRANGER UPSTAIRS was a Book of the Month pick. Her second novel, THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS, is out March 2026.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her golden retriever. She’s probably rewatching The Walking Dead right now and trying not to laugh at her own jokes. Matlin is a passionate mental health advocate and your dog’s number one fan.
THE STRANGER UPSTAIRS was a Book of the Month pick. Her second novel, THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS, is out March 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
September 6, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Fun fact about me… I’m equally terrified of and fascinated by sharks. Point me to a movie, a show or a book about sharks and I’m consuming it, no questions asked. While we’re on the topic, why aren’t there more books about sharks? Let’s step up our collective game. Shark it up.
This one was pretty sharky, so I’ll give it that, but otherwise it was pretty run-of-the-gill. The characters felt a bit fin and scaled down, and the mystery floundered a bit.
I didn’t want to mako big deal about it though because overall it was decent. I’ll definitely sink my teeth into some of the author’s other work.
Fun fact about me… I’m equally terrified of and fascinated by sharks. Point me to a movie, a show or a book about sharks and I’m consuming it, no questions asked. While we’re on the topic, why aren’t there more books about sharks? Let’s step up our collective game. Shark it up.
This one was pretty sharky, so I’ll give it that, but otherwise it was pretty run-of-the-gill. The characters felt a bit fin and scaled down, and the mystery floundered a bit.
I didn’t want to mako big deal about it though because overall it was decent. I’ll definitely sink my teeth into some of the author’s other work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
REVIEW TO COME💗!!!!!!!!
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖🦈Deadly shark attacks in this nail biting suspense story⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖🦈!!!!!!!!
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖🦈Deadly shark attacks in this nail biting suspense story⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖🦈!!!!!!!!
March 31, 2026
”Be the shark, or be the food.”
Dark, unsettling, and haunting, The Only One Who Knows was quite the original tale. Taking place in a small secretive town with an us vs. them feel, the atmosphere was as ominous as the vibe behind the story itself. You see, the further into the book that I got, the higher the sense of dread seemed to rise. Add in the layers of mysteries, and I knew that something bad was coming down the pike. That being said, I never would’ve guessed that bombshell of a truth. Disturbing, uncomfortable, and yet also something that felt ripped right from the headlines, I do have to say that this was a hard book to read but an even harder book to put down. After all, it was a genre-bending mashup of thriller, horror, and family drama, where layers of long-buried secrets and one shiver-inducing scheme made my jaw drop in complete and utter surprise.
Why family drama, you ask? Well, alongside of the chilling plot and horror-filled scenes was a dysfunctional family that drove much of the story for the first two-thirds of the book. You see, the story behind what was really going on felt like a definite slow burn. Unfortunately, that’s where this book lost me just a tad. Initially coming off as more of a family saga and coming-of-age tale combo, it only really got interesting for me towards the end. You see, the last third had everything that I love. Explosive, fast pacing and even feeling just a tiny bit unhinged, the events had me glued to the pages. So if you love dark secrets and gritty towns, grab this book now. Just know that it was a story of two parts that didn’t necessarily work as well together as they might have if the tempo had been the same the entire time. Rating of 3.25 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
With her polished persona as a morning show co-host, Minnow Greenwood seems to have it all. But behind the camera, something’s about to break. When a public meltdown shatters her facade, Minnow flees back to Kangaroo Bay—a grimy fishing town on Australia’s southern coast, where locals vanish and something deadly hunts in the water.
On her first night back, a horrifying shark attack rocks the town, adding another body to the unsettling list of deaths and disappearances. Then a former colleague arrives to investigate, so she reluctantly teams up with him to find answers for herself and keep her own dark secrets buried.
But with danger closing in, Minnow must unearth her town’s deadly past—and face the darkness festering inside her—before she becomes the next to disappear.
Thank you Lisa M. Matlin and Bantam Books for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 3, 2026
Content warning: knife violence, murder, violence, shark attack, mention of: domestic abuse, animal death
Dark, unsettling, and haunting, The Only One Who Knows was quite the original tale. Taking place in a small secretive town with an us vs. them feel, the atmosphere was as ominous as the vibe behind the story itself. You see, the further into the book that I got, the higher the sense of dread seemed to rise. Add in the layers of mysteries, and I knew that something bad was coming down the pike. That being said, I never would’ve guessed that bombshell of a truth. Disturbing, uncomfortable, and yet also something that felt ripped right from the headlines, I do have to say that this was a hard book to read but an even harder book to put down. After all, it was a genre-bending mashup of thriller, horror, and family drama, where layers of long-buried secrets and one shiver-inducing scheme made my jaw drop in complete and utter surprise.
Why family drama, you ask? Well, alongside of the chilling plot and horror-filled scenes was a dysfunctional family that drove much of the story for the first two-thirds of the book. You see, the story behind what was really going on felt like a definite slow burn. Unfortunately, that’s where this book lost me just a tad. Initially coming off as more of a family saga and coming-of-age tale combo, it only really got interesting for me towards the end. You see, the last third had everything that I love. Explosive, fast pacing and even feeling just a tiny bit unhinged, the events had me glued to the pages. So if you love dark secrets and gritty towns, grab this book now. Just know that it was a story of two parts that didn’t necessarily work as well together as they might have if the tempo had been the same the entire time. Rating of 3.25 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
With her polished persona as a morning show co-host, Minnow Greenwood seems to have it all. But behind the camera, something’s about to break. When a public meltdown shatters her facade, Minnow flees back to Kangaroo Bay—a grimy fishing town on Australia’s southern coast, where locals vanish and something deadly hunts in the water.
On her first night back, a horrifying shark attack rocks the town, adding another body to the unsettling list of deaths and disappearances. Then a former colleague arrives to investigate, so she reluctantly teams up with him to find answers for herself and keep her own dark secrets buried.
But with danger closing in, Minnow must unearth her town’s deadly past—and face the darkness festering inside her—before she becomes the next to disappear.
Thank you Lisa M. Matlin and Bantam Books for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 3, 2026
Content warning: knife violence, murder, violence, shark attack, mention of: domestic abuse, animal death
March 3, 2026
Minnow has a bit of an on-air kerfuffle one morning during her cohosting job. Needless to say, she finds herself unemployed and heads back to her childhood home in Kangaroo Bay. Kangaroo Bay is a very grim, working class kind of town. The men are violent and the women either turn a blind eye or leave. Minnow’s mother was one that chose to leave and her dad has been missing for several years. Her brother currently has taken over the family business of fishing expeditions. During one of these expeditions, they discover a body being chomped on by a shark. Apparently this isn’t the first one and shark chomping is a common occurrence. But it appears that it’s possible a murder might have occurred before they became fish food. Being that Minnow has a degree in journalism, she decides to start looking into these disappearances, including her parents.
This felt a bit disjointed and never really fully came together for me. There were brief interludes of the past timeline that caught my interest, but didn’t feel like they worked with the current timeline. While they gave a bit of backstory, it just didn’t feel like a seamless transition. Being as brief as these interludes were, I did enjoy them much more so than the current timeline’s mystery. They were rather creepy and gave more insight into the violence of the town.
Now what I really liked was the use of fish puns. They were abundant and definitely had me snickering. In other words, they were fin-tabulous.
Overall, this definitely had potential and there were certain aspects that I did like, but as a whole, it felt rather disjointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This felt a bit disjointed and never really fully came together for me. There were brief interludes of the past timeline that caught my interest, but didn’t feel like they worked with the current timeline. While they gave a bit of backstory, it just didn’t feel like a seamless transition. Being as brief as these interludes were, I did enjoy them much more so than the current timeline’s mystery. They were rather creepy and gave more insight into the violence of the town.
Now what I really liked was the use of fish puns. They were abundant and definitely had me snickering. In other words, they were fin-tabulous.
Overall, this definitely had potential and there were certain aspects that I did like, but as a whole, it felt rather disjointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2026
Oh my goodness that ending 😱😱
This book was so dark and so addictive! it was a timely read considering what has been happening here in NSW with shark attacks and beaches being closed this summer. If I wasn’t afraid of going into the sea before I certainly am now! I won’t spoil the story, as it is pretty intense and messed up in places. Minnow, our main character goes home to her childhood home in a coastal town in Victoria for the first time in a long time after her life implodes. She has always known that it is a bad place, but now she starts to learn the truth of her family and upbringing.
I was hooked, and felt so uncomfortable in the final chapters . Wow, just madness.
Thank you so much to Ballantine on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on March 3rd.
This book was so dark and so addictive! it was a timely read considering what has been happening here in NSW with shark attacks and beaches being closed this summer. If I wasn’t afraid of going into the sea before I certainly am now! I won’t spoil the story, as it is pretty intense and messed up in places. Minnow, our main character goes home to her childhood home in a coastal town in Victoria for the first time in a long time after her life implodes. She has always known that it is a bad place, but now she starts to learn the truth of her family and upbringing.
I was hooked, and felt so uncomfortable in the final chapters . Wow, just madness.
Thank you so much to Ballantine on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on March 3rd.
May 7, 2026
Early thoughts: I'm a little concerned about the casual ableism, but it's a compelling enough lead to keep me going. *edit The author actually takes ableism on and shows how to do it. So grateful!
Vibe: entertaining and hectic
I’m curious about: ...the genetic component in play. It makes for a good story question. Did she inherit a monster from her father? Or a mental illness? Does she understand the difference?
"He looks harmless, but he’s not. Journalists never are. They don’t look at you. They look inside you. You’re not human to them. You’re a sack of secrets in meat." p57
Content Warnings: animal cruelty, animal death, open water, boats, sun burn, rumor, drowning, the ocean, vom*t, saliva, snot, poaching, hunting of protected species, family crime, shark attack, murder, violence against women, inhumanity, cruelty
Final thoughts: I just love the primary conflict here, which comes down to the choice some people have to face of choosing the Family Story, or leaving them behind and starting one's own story.
What worked: I loved the conservationist and poacher villain elements. I'm happy to see this becoming a more popular theme. I'm also truly grateful for an author who writes about trauma in a knowledgeable and unspectacular way: "He was breaking, piece by piece. Because it turns out, you can only carry something until you just can’t anymore. One day, all those things you survived by the scrape of your teeth will demand to be paid in full." p208
What didn’t: What's up with all the bodily fluids? This is a thriller, I think, but there is horror-story levels of gross-out here.
Who this is for: Lovers of slow burn thrillers and protecting nature and wildlife will enjoy this one.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
Vibe: entertaining and hectic
I’m curious about: ...the genetic component in play. It makes for a good story question. Did she inherit a monster from her father? Or a mental illness? Does she understand the difference?
"He looks harmless, but he’s not. Journalists never are. They don’t look at you. They look inside you. You’re not human to them. You’re a sack of secrets in meat." p57
Content Warnings: animal cruelty, animal death, open water, boats, sun burn, rumor, drowning, the ocean, vom*t, saliva, snot, poaching, hunting of protected species, family crime, shark attack, murder, violence against women, inhumanity, cruelty
Final thoughts: I just love the primary conflict here, which comes down to the choice some people have to face of choosing the Family Story, or leaving them behind and starting one's own story.
What worked: I loved the conservationist and poacher villain elements. I'm happy to see this becoming a more popular theme. I'm also truly grateful for an author who writes about trauma in a knowledgeable and unspectacular way: "He was breaking, piece by piece. Because it turns out, you can only carry something until you just can’t anymore. One day, all those things you survived by the scrape of your teeth will demand to be paid in full." p208
What didn’t: What's up with all the bodily fluids? This is a thriller, I think, but there is horror-story levels of gross-out here.
Who this is for: Lovers of slow burn thrillers and protecting nature and wildlife will enjoy this one.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really just thought this book was confusing and had no flow at all. It was hard to follow, and I don't think the writing style was for me. It just all felt disorganized. The premise was good though, and it had some good bones, just really lacked in execution.
Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 8, 2025
ARC for review. To be published March 3, 2025.
3 stars
Have I mentioned that within a two week period I read two ARCs where the FMC was named Minnow and they are about sharks? No wonder we only get comic book movies and remakes, the well of ideas is, sadly, empty.
That sad, this wasn’t half bad. The story is set in the Australian coast. Minnie has returned to her very blue collar hometown and is staying with brother, Heath, who fishes on the same boat owned by his late father. The two grew up nearly feral. And, of course, something is going on in the town, which is seeing shark attacks.
Since, as I may have mentioned, I JUST read another book about sharks I actually knew exactly what was happening from the very beginning and I just had to wait on ol’ Minnow to get there (you name your kid “Minnow” and you probably aren’t setting her up for a job as the first female President.). You guys won’t have all my very specialized and in-depth shark knowledge from the other book, so you won’t get it (you’ll probably get it.). The book had witty portions but a bit of a detached tone. I liked it, though.
3 stars
Have I mentioned that within a two week period I read two ARCs where the FMC was named Minnow and they are about sharks? No wonder we only get comic book movies and remakes, the well of ideas is, sadly, empty.
That sad, this wasn’t half bad. The story is set in the Australian coast. Minnie has returned to her very blue collar hometown and is staying with brother, Heath, who fishes on the same boat owned by his late father. The two grew up nearly feral. And, of course, something is going on in the town, which is seeing shark attacks.
Since, as I may have mentioned, I JUST read another book about sharks I actually knew exactly what was happening from the very beginning and I just had to wait on ol’ Minnow to get there (you name your kid “Minnow” and you probably aren’t setting her up for a job as the first female President.). You guys won’t have all my very specialized and in-depth shark knowledge from the other book, so you won’t get it (you’ll probably get it.). The book had witty portions but a bit of a detached tone. I liked it, though.
August 26, 2025
This is not a feel good book.
This is a book about a very mean town filled with cruel and desperate people.
While I liked our main character, I'll admit that for some she might be hard to like. Actually, I'll just say that she's very...hard. She fits her town well, though.
It did take a little bit for the book to capture my attention, but once it did, I was riveted.
I'd keep in mind that this isn't an escape sort of book. It's incredibly bleak. But it's also well written, unique, and I would read the author again.
* ARC via Publisher
This is a book about a very mean town filled with cruel and desperate people.
While I liked our main character, I'll admit that for some she might be hard to like. Actually, I'll just say that she's very...hard. She fits her town well, though.
It did take a little bit for the book to capture my attention, but once it did, I was riveted.
I'd keep in mind that this isn't an escape sort of book. It's incredibly bleak. But it's also well written, unique, and I would read the author again.
* ARC via Publisher
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My father had many kids of silence, and I'd learned how important it was to analyze them all. Fish can tell a storm is coming days in advance. Can sense a change in the pressure system long before there's any signs of rain. We were like that. So sensitive to any changes in my father's moods. For us, our father was the storm and the sea. Perhaps if we were quick enough, vigilant enough, we could swim for calmer waters.
The protagonist, Winnow, is quite the intriguing character. We are introduced to her as an adult who's engaged to a meteorologist and working as a co-host on a morning talk show. Unfortunately, Winnow recently realized her fiance is not so different from her father, her co-hosts are not the sweet ladies they portray themselves to be, and if thats not bad enough, her now ex wont give her dog back. Its enough to make anyone have a melt down...unfortunately for Winnow, it happens on air.
New life officially blown up with no where to go, she returns to her hometown. Winnow grew up in Kangaroo Bay, Australia, a brutal town on the coast known for its hardhanded fishermen and wives who don't stay. It takes a lot of heart to return to the place your nightmares were born. But her brother still lives there and she needs escape from her current situation.
There are a couple mysteries in this book. In the present time, tourists have been killed by sharks uncharacteristically close to shore. The media is there to investigate, which is not going over well with the townies. Minnow decides to help a journalist get information in exchange for his help getting her some work. Neither of them have any idea of the danger they face. Between the current investigation, and the cold case she's kept secret for so many years, this book takes off at a fast pace and never lets off the gas.
Make no mistake, this is not a popcorn thriller. Its a thriller lovers thriller, violent and dark, original and exciting. I read it over the course of 24 hours, loving the characters, the setting and the mysteries both past and present.
Lisa Matlin first hooked me as a fan with her debut, The Stranger Upstairs. With her sophomore novel, The Only One Who Knows, she has solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me. I would best recommend her work to fans of gritty characters and dark stories who welcome a little blood, death and cussing in their books, and to fans of Karin Slaughter, C.J. Tudor and A.G. Slatter.
The protagonist, Winnow, is quite the intriguing character. We are introduced to her as an adult who's engaged to a meteorologist and working as a co-host on a morning talk show. Unfortunately, Winnow recently realized her fiance is not so different from her father, her co-hosts are not the sweet ladies they portray themselves to be, and if thats not bad enough, her now ex wont give her dog back. Its enough to make anyone have a melt down...unfortunately for Winnow, it happens on air.
New life officially blown up with no where to go, she returns to her hometown. Winnow grew up in Kangaroo Bay, Australia, a brutal town on the coast known for its hardhanded fishermen and wives who don't stay. It takes a lot of heart to return to the place your nightmares were born. But her brother still lives there and she needs escape from her current situation.
There are a couple mysteries in this book. In the present time, tourists have been killed by sharks uncharacteristically close to shore. The media is there to investigate, which is not going over well with the townies. Minnow decides to help a journalist get information in exchange for his help getting her some work. Neither of them have any idea of the danger they face. Between the current investigation, and the cold case she's kept secret for so many years, this book takes off at a fast pace and never lets off the gas.
Make no mistake, this is not a popcorn thriller. Its a thriller lovers thriller, violent and dark, original and exciting. I read it over the course of 24 hours, loving the characters, the setting and the mysteries both past and present.
Lisa Matlin first hooked me as a fan with her debut, The Stranger Upstairs. With her sophomore novel, The Only One Who Knows, she has solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me. I would best recommend her work to fans of gritty characters and dark stories who welcome a little blood, death and cussing in their books, and to fans of Karin Slaughter, C.J. Tudor and A.G. Slatter.
December 15, 2025
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
After an on-air blow up, journalist Minnow Greenwood returns to the fishing town of Kangaroo Bay. Needing to get away, she's back to the place she thought she'd left well behind after the disappearances of her mother and, later, her abusive father years before. With a recent shark attack tn the news, Minnow thinks maybe there's something to get her back on her career track. But she left more than just bad memories in Kangaroo Bay - both the town and she have many skeletons waiting in the closet.
Lisa Matlin's strong writing is again on display here. The plot is definitely a different one, with a main character who is beyond flawed, having been forced to go back to a place where many dark secrets from her past lurk, unknown to anyone but her. The story is ripe with tension and enthralling mysteries throughout. I definitely had no idea where most of them were going. However, it may just be me, but the real "mystery" of what's going on in the town just didn't resonate as being all that big a deal to me. And the resolution portion of the story felt like it was dragging on longer than necessary. But there was quite a bit going on which kept you guessing.
After an on-air blow up, journalist Minnow Greenwood returns to the fishing town of Kangaroo Bay. Needing to get away, she's back to the place she thought she'd left well behind after the disappearances of her mother and, later, her abusive father years before. With a recent shark attack tn the news, Minnow thinks maybe there's something to get her back on her career track. But she left more than just bad memories in Kangaroo Bay - both the town and she have many skeletons waiting in the closet.
Lisa Matlin's strong writing is again on display here. The plot is definitely a different one, with a main character who is beyond flawed, having been forced to go back to a place where many dark secrets from her past lurk, unknown to anyone but her. The story is ripe with tension and enthralling mysteries throughout. I definitely had no idea where most of them were going. However, it may just be me, but the real "mystery" of what's going on in the town just didn't resonate as being all that big a deal to me. And the resolution portion of the story felt like it was dragging on longer than necessary. But there was quite a bit going on which kept you guessing.
February 24, 2026
I was so excited to get an electronic advanced readers copy of this book because I absolutely loved Lisa M. Matlin’s, The Stranger Upstairs. (5 star rating!) With that being said, this book was dark, disturbing and kinda weird and I don’t mean in a good way. Minnow was such a hard character to connect with. I was left not understanding why she did a lot of the things she did. She did some very twisted and dark things as a child even considering her parents and her upbringing. I was stunned to realize that these things happened when the FMC was only a fifth grader. It was a very slow read and I found myself just not wanting to pick it up to finish it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an eARC of this book. You can find it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an eARC of this book. You can find it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
April 19, 2026
Thank you @prhaudio #PRHAudioPartner for the gifted copy of this audiobook...this is my honest review.
🎧 The Only One Who Knows🎧
Author: Lisa M. Matlin
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Audiobook Publisher: PRH Audio
Narrator: Nikki Thomas
Length: 9 hours, 23 minutes
MY RATING: 3.5/5⭐
(Rounded Up To 4⭐)
The Only One Who Knows, from Lisa M. Matlin, is a multi-layered slow burn mystery, set in Australia, about a woman who is desperate to escape the traumas of her childhood and hometown but seems compelled to solve the mysteries that have plagued her family for years.
Narrator Nikki Thomas did a fantastic job with this audiobook! Her voice was easy to listen to and she really did well with all the different characters throughout the book.
While I thought this book was okay, overall it missed the mark for me. It started out strong, but it seemed to take turn after turn after turn until it ultimately became a pretty muddled mess. There were SO MANY mysteries happening that most of the time I wasn't sure which mystery we were trying to resolve or which plotline I was supposed to be paying attention to.
I also thought this book was longer than it needed to be and took a long time to get somewhere -- probably because there were so many things going on. Paring this book down into a more streamlined story could have really improved it, in my opinion. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were fewer mysteries and more time was devoted to unraveling each of them.
With that being said, if you enjoy books with several plotlines and mysteries going on at once, hometowns with dark secrets and family traumas, and books set in coastal Australia -- you might really enjoy this one. It's out now!
#TheOnlyOneWhoKnows #LisaMMatlin #PRHAudio #partner #audiobook #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
🎧 The Only One Who Knows🎧
Author: Lisa M. Matlin
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Audiobook Publisher: PRH Audio
Narrator: Nikki Thomas
Length: 9 hours, 23 minutes
MY RATING: 3.5/5⭐
(Rounded Up To 4⭐)
The Only One Who Knows, from Lisa M. Matlin, is a multi-layered slow burn mystery, set in Australia, about a woman who is desperate to escape the traumas of her childhood and hometown but seems compelled to solve the mysteries that have plagued her family for years.
Narrator Nikki Thomas did a fantastic job with this audiobook! Her voice was easy to listen to and she really did well with all the different characters throughout the book.
While I thought this book was okay, overall it missed the mark for me. It started out strong, but it seemed to take turn after turn after turn until it ultimately became a pretty muddled mess. There were SO MANY mysteries happening that most of the time I wasn't sure which mystery we were trying to resolve or which plotline I was supposed to be paying attention to.
I also thought this book was longer than it needed to be and took a long time to get somewhere -- probably because there were so many things going on. Paring this book down into a more streamlined story could have really improved it, in my opinion. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were fewer mysteries and more time was devoted to unraveling each of them.
With that being said, if you enjoy books with several plotlines and mysteries going on at once, hometowns with dark secrets and family traumas, and books set in coastal Australia -- you might really enjoy this one. It's out now!
#TheOnlyOneWhoKnows #LisaMMatlin #PRHAudio #partner #audiobook #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
March 5, 2026
Fast paced and filled with small town secrets!
Minnnow Greenwood blows up her TV news reporter position during a dramatic newscast. Obviously fired from her job, she heads back home to Kangaroo Bay, planning to join her brother and their family shark fishing business. But on her first night on the boat, a brutal shark attack exposes a victim in the water. A victim that has been missing for weeks.
Kangaroo Bay is a hostile place with hostile people. The locals hate the invasive, littering, and clueless tourists. The inviting waters are filled with hungry sharks brought in close by the thriving fishing business of the community.
Minnow’s childhood was filled with fear and grief. Her father was a hard man and her mother left when Minnow was young.
The natural journalist inside Minnow is resurrected when she realizes that people have been going missing in Kangaroo Bay for forty years; including her own father. This is her chance to prove her worth as a journalist and discover what happened to her father ten years ago. But as she digs for truth, she realizes that someone will stop at nothing to keep the secrets buried in Kangaroo Bay.
I will always grab for a book set in Australia and bonus points if it contains sharks and shark attacks!
Thank you Netgalley, Ballantine Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now
Minnnow Greenwood blows up her TV news reporter position during a dramatic newscast. Obviously fired from her job, she heads back home to Kangaroo Bay, planning to join her brother and their family shark fishing business. But on her first night on the boat, a brutal shark attack exposes a victim in the water. A victim that has been missing for weeks.
Kangaroo Bay is a hostile place with hostile people. The locals hate the invasive, littering, and clueless tourists. The inviting waters are filled with hungry sharks brought in close by the thriving fishing business of the community.
Minnow’s childhood was filled with fear and grief. Her father was a hard man and her mother left when Minnow was young.
The natural journalist inside Minnow is resurrected when she realizes that people have been going missing in Kangaroo Bay for forty years; including her own father. This is her chance to prove her worth as a journalist and discover what happened to her father ten years ago. But as she digs for truth, she realizes that someone will stop at nothing to keep the secrets buried in Kangaroo Bay.
I will always grab for a book set in Australia and bonus points if it contains sharks and shark attacks!
Thank you Netgalley, Ballantine Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now
March 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the opportunity to read The Only One Who Knows by Lisa M. Matlin.
The start of this book was great! Kept me interested and curious to know what would happen next. Once she made it to her hometown, the tension shifted. The back and forth timelines kind of killed the build up for me. The tone changed and it just all felt anticlimactic.
The start of this book was great! Kept me interested and curious to know what would happen next. Once she made it to her hometown, the tension shifted. The back and forth timelines kind of killed the build up for me. The tone changed and it just all felt anticlimactic.
August 15, 2025
FINALLY! I've been waiting forever for another Lisa Matlin book after loving and devouring The Stranger Upstairs. While this book didn't quite reach my five-star expectations, I was still extremely captivated by the story and enthralled by the suspense that chilled me to the bone with the turn of every page. Between the hostile residents in town, the nighttime shark attacks, Minnow's memories of her childhood, and the disturbing behavior of some of the characters, there was no shortage of darkness. It just crept right in and enveloped me like a storm cloud. The mystery and secrets unraveled slowly but the pacing was fast and frenzied. Minnow was an interesting and layered character, but I didn't quite understand her quirks and why she did what she did. I would have liked more of an explanation on this for closure. I feel like this book should be marketed more as a psychological thriller / horror. I wouldn't say that it was scary, it was more dark and disturbing and WEIRD! And I love weird! Would definitely recommend!
Thank you to Ballantine for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to Ballantine for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
February 24, 2026
The Only One Who Knows by Lisa M. Matlin 🦈
I really enjoyed Lisa M. Matlin’s first book, The Stranger Upstairs, so I was excited to receive an early copy of her second novel. Unfortunately, I was deeply disappointed. The author made a conscious choice to depict her protagonist as a ten year old child in various s*xu*lly suggestive situations, and I was extremely uncomfortable reading it. I’m not going to recommend this book for that reason.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book. You can find it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
“You’re either the shark or the food.”
— Lisa M. Matlin, The Only One Who Knows
I really enjoyed Lisa M. Matlin’s first book, The Stranger Upstairs, so I was excited to receive an early copy of her second novel. Unfortunately, I was deeply disappointed. The author made a conscious choice to depict her protagonist as a ten year old child in various s*xu*lly suggestive situations, and I was extremely uncomfortable reading it. I’m not going to recommend this book for that reason.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book. You can find it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
“You’re either the shark or the food.”
— Lisa M. Matlin, The Only One Who Knows
August 26, 2025
A beautifully, tragic, dark thriller. This book was truly an experience. I loved the setting and the descriptions of the town so much. I found myself completely engrossed in the characters and the world very early on. I loved mysteries and getting to know these characters so much (trying to avoid spoilers here) the flashbacks were fascinating and interesting. Never guessed the twist and was so satisfied with the ending. A fantastic read and a fabulous introduction for me personally as this was my first read by Lisa M Matlin.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars!
What in bloody jaws is happening in the water? The cover of this book caught my attention, and I quickly realized that while the first book I read was okay, this one was something else entirely! It was suspenseful right from the start, and I couldn’t put it down—I finished it in just a day! I had to know who did it and why!
Minnow Greenwood, a former TV reporter, who returns to her hometown of Kangaroo Bay amidst mysterious bodies washing ashore. Having to work with her estranged brother in shark fishing, Minnow uncovers a troubling connection to her father’s long-term disappearance and a pattern of missing persons over the past forty years. As she investigates, Minnow finds herself entangled in dark secrets that someone is willing to kill to protect.
The story unfolds across two timelines, allowing us to uncover Minnow's past events. When someone makes a living hunting sharks, you know you’re in for a wild ride! Add a charming dog character into the mix, and I’m hooked! I loved the suspense that gradually revealed the truth, with just enough mystery to keep you guessing until the very end. I didn’t see all the plot twists coming, and the climax was thrilling, heart-pounding, and jaw-dropping, or should I say shark-biting? At one point, I found myself questioning who to trust more: the sharks or the people! The overwhelming sense of dread is palpable, and it really drives the story home.
I also appreciated how vividly the author painted the environment; it was incredibly atmospheric! It’s clear the author has firsthand experience. As someone with a diving license, I’ve encountered sharks before—some were harmless, while others were downright terrifying! Reading this brought back memories of my time in Key West, where I spent weekends diving.
If you enjoy piecing together puzzles and figuring out whodunit, or if you’re a fan of small-town settings with a dash of bloodthirsty action and a tragic tale, then this book is perfect for you. It’s quite a ride on a boat, so make sure to bring along some Dramamine, or you might be feeling queasy for days! Ha!
Thank you, Ballantine |Bantam and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What in bloody jaws is happening in the water? The cover of this book caught my attention, and I quickly realized that while the first book I read was okay, this one was something else entirely! It was suspenseful right from the start, and I couldn’t put it down—I finished it in just a day! I had to know who did it and why!
Minnow Greenwood, a former TV reporter, who returns to her hometown of Kangaroo Bay amidst mysterious bodies washing ashore. Having to work with her estranged brother in shark fishing, Minnow uncovers a troubling connection to her father’s long-term disappearance and a pattern of missing persons over the past forty years. As she investigates, Minnow finds herself entangled in dark secrets that someone is willing to kill to protect.
The story unfolds across two timelines, allowing us to uncover Minnow's past events. When someone makes a living hunting sharks, you know you’re in for a wild ride! Add a charming dog character into the mix, and I’m hooked! I loved the suspense that gradually revealed the truth, with just enough mystery to keep you guessing until the very end. I didn’t see all the plot twists coming, and the climax was thrilling, heart-pounding, and jaw-dropping, or should I say shark-biting? At one point, I found myself questioning who to trust more: the sharks or the people! The overwhelming sense of dread is palpable, and it really drives the story home.
I also appreciated how vividly the author painted the environment; it was incredibly atmospheric! It’s clear the author has firsthand experience. As someone with a diving license, I’ve encountered sharks before—some were harmless, while others were downright terrifying! Reading this brought back memories of my time in Key West, where I spent weekends diving.
If you enjoy piecing together puzzles and figuring out whodunit, or if you’re a fan of small-town settings with a dash of bloodthirsty action and a tragic tale, then this book is perfect for you. It’s quite a ride on a boat, so make sure to bring along some Dramamine, or you might be feeling queasy for days! Ha!
Thank you, Ballantine |Bantam and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 13, 2026
When co-anchor Minnow Greenwood has an on air blow up during the morning news, she understands what is going to happen next. She is let go from the station and has to move back home to the small town of Kangaroo Bay. Minnow thought that she had left this town far behind her. Her abusive father had been missing for several years and now her mother to has disappeared. Minnow’s brother Heath has currently taken over the family business of fishing expeditions. During one of these expeditions, they discover a body floating in the water and a shark nearby. Heath knows that this is a common occurrence, many people die from shark attacks. It appears that it’s possible this person could have been murdered and thrown in the water. Now that Minnow is out of work, she takes it on herself to start looking into these disappearances, including her parents.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It did leave me with some questions that never got answered, but the subtle flash backs were enough to help tie the story together. I was not expecting the ending to be OMG!! The last few chapters are dark and truly had me on the edge of my seat. This would be a great one for those who love a great thriller. Put this one on your list, it’s so worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/ Bantam Publishing for the advanced copy for my honest review as well as Lisa M. Matlin for a great story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It did leave me with some questions that never got answered, but the subtle flash backs were enough to help tie the story together. I was not expecting the ending to be OMG!! The last few chapters are dark and truly had me on the edge of my seat. This would be a great one for those who love a great thriller. Put this one on your list, it’s so worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/ Bantam Publishing for the advanced copy for my honest review as well as Lisa M. Matlin for a great story.
April 23, 2026
I went into The Only One Who Knows with little knowledge of what the book was about. I suspected it was a psychological thriller and was ready to go on a wild ride. But what I got was more of a mystery/horror book about sharks.
Minnow is part of a dark and secluded ocean town where the tourists are not welcome. It just so happens that the day she comes back, one of those tourists is part of a horrific shark attack. What Minnow witnesses seems fishy (there are TONS of fish puns throughout this book) and she takes it upon herself to try to get to the bottom of what is happening.
Be ready for the suspension of disbelief when reading this book. It felt choppy and confusing at times. I don't really know why the book started with Minnow making a fool of herself on live tv, only to end up coming back home to where she grew up and potentially get to the bottom of missing person mysteries - including both of her parents. I feel like I finished this book still wondering logistically how things fit together.
I received an advanced reader's copy from Ballantine via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Minnow is part of a dark and secluded ocean town where the tourists are not welcome. It just so happens that the day she comes back, one of those tourists is part of a horrific shark attack. What Minnow witnesses seems fishy (there are TONS of fish puns throughout this book) and she takes it upon herself to try to get to the bottom of what is happening.
Be ready for the suspension of disbelief when reading this book. It felt choppy and confusing at times. I don't really know why the book started with Minnow making a fool of herself on live tv, only to end up coming back home to where she grew up and potentially get to the bottom of missing person mysteries - including both of her parents. I feel like I finished this book still wondering logistically how things fit together.
I received an advanced reader's copy from Ballantine via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2025
•Minnow Greenwood returns to her hometown of Kangaroo Bay, right around the same time bodies begin piling up on shore after numerous shark attacks. Born and raised in Kangaroo Bay, Minnow and her brother Heath were raised by a mother who disappeared, and an abusive father, who subsequently disappeared as well. Upon returning, Minnow discovers a long list of missing people, many more than just her parents.
•I really enjoyed this book. The characters were dark and unpolished. I also enjoyed the decades of secrets.
•Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa M. Matlin, and Bantam books for this ARC. It will become available on March 3, 2026.
•I really enjoyed this book. The characters were dark and unpolished. I also enjoyed the decades of secrets.
•Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa M. Matlin, and Bantam books for this ARC. It will become available on March 3, 2026.
March 4, 2026
HAPPY PUB DAY MARCH 3rd
Thank you @netgalley and @bantambooks for my ARC.
Failed TV news reporter Minnow Greenwood has returned home to lick her wounds after an onscreen incident causes her to lose her job. She reunites with her brother Heath in Kangaroo Bay, where she joins him working in the families shark fishing business. Upon her return, bodies begin to wash ashore after being attacked by sharks. 🦈 I loved the shark aspect of the book reminding me of when Jaws was released. Minnow is now forced to face her past, including the disappearance of her father and her mother. I loved the atmospheric vibe of this story and oh that ending!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#bookreviewer #bestestbookclubever #theonlyonewhoknows #lisammatlin #mysterythriller
Thank you @netgalley and @bantambooks for my ARC.
Failed TV news reporter Minnow Greenwood has returned home to lick her wounds after an onscreen incident causes her to lose her job. She reunites with her brother Heath in Kangaroo Bay, where she joins him working in the families shark fishing business. Upon her return, bodies begin to wash ashore after being attacked by sharks. 🦈 I loved the shark aspect of the book reminding me of when Jaws was released. Minnow is now forced to face her past, including the disappearance of her father and her mother. I loved the atmospheric vibe of this story and oh that ending!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#bookreviewer #bestestbookclubever #theonlyonewhoknows #lisammatlin #mysterythriller
March 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this domestic mystery set in a small Australian coastal town where sharks are getting blamed for dead bodies and one woman returns home only to discover her long missing mother's dead body, bringing up lots of bad memories regarding her also missing father who she suspects is responsible for her mother's murder. Dark, layered and compelling. This was good on audio and recommended for fans of books like Shark house by Sara Ackerman. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
CW: domestic abuse
CW: domestic abuse
March 9, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Only One Who Knows.
Set in Australia our lead character gets fired from her TV job and returns home. That’s where the story really begins. Between shark attacks and other mysterious events, she navigates the story to get to the bottom of the problem - murder.
Lots of interesting characters and plot. Started slow but picked up by the end. Good book and lots to devour.
3 stars
Set in Australia our lead character gets fired from her TV job and returns home. That’s where the story really begins. Between shark attacks and other mysterious events, she navigates the story to get to the bottom of the problem - murder.
Lots of interesting characters and plot. Started slow but picked up by the end. Good book and lots to devour.
3 stars
January 11, 2026
Reading about other countries and cultures is a great thing… it helps you understand what goes on and how things are relatable to you. This book is dark and twisted and while I had to google many things about Australia, Kangaroo Meat… and fishing lure this book was good. I’ll definitely be looking into reading the author’s other novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam Books for the eARC. The Only One Who Knows releases March 3rd.
Minnow returns home to a small Australian fishing town after her very public unraveling, where the story focuses heavily on buried secrets, trauma, and the darker underbelly of the community.
I appreciated the unique premise and especially the elements surrounding illegal fishing and shark attacks. That aspect added an interesting layer and made the town feel darker. The pacing leans slower, but I didn’t mind it. We get a lot of the past in small pieces, which gradually fills in the bigger picture.
Overall, I liked the book even if I wasn’t deeply invested. This is a solid 3-star read for me. I did love The Stranger Upstairs more, but this was still an enjoyable read.
Minnow returns home to a small Australian fishing town after her very public unraveling, where the story focuses heavily on buried secrets, trauma, and the darker underbelly of the community.
I appreciated the unique premise and especially the elements surrounding illegal fishing and shark attacks. That aspect added an interesting layer and made the town feel darker. The pacing leans slower, but I didn’t mind it. We get a lot of the past in small pieces, which gradually fills in the bigger picture.
Overall, I liked the book even if I wasn’t deeply invested. This is a solid 3-star read for me. I did love The Stranger Upstairs more, but this was still an enjoyable read.
April 26, 2026
I really enjoyed this read. While it started out slow, once I figured out where it was going, it got really interesting and fast paced. Love how the main protagonist kept true to herself and family. Beware of the sharks! Thank you to Netgalley, Ballatine and the Author Lisa M Matlin for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2026
classic Australia tbh
March 21, 2026
Ooo boy the way I was hooked into this
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