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Behind These Four Walls
From the author of Not What She Seems, Yasmin Angoe’s thriller explores revenge, morality, corruption, and wealth as a woman sets out to uncover the truth behind her friend’s disappearance and expose the powerful family behind it.
Isla Thorne had a rough start in life. Orphaned young, she spent her formative years in a group home where she met her best friend, Eden Galloway. At sixteen, they decide to run away to LA…but Eden never makes it.
It’s been twelve years since Eden vanished. And Isla’s determined to find her.
She begins at the last place Eden the Corrigan mansion in Virginia. Eden claimed to have unfinished business there. Posing as an aspiring journalist, Isla insinuates herself into the wealthy family’s home and begins searching for the truth.
The more she digs, the more Isla discovers Eden isn’t who she thought she was. Was she even a victim, or did Eden plan this all along? Desperate for answers and to keep her identity hidden, Isla finds an ally in one of the Corrigan sons. But as she wades deeper into this power-hungry family’s secrets and lies, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a bloodline that’s more lethal than loyal.
Isla Thorne had a rough start in life. Orphaned young, she spent her formative years in a group home where she met her best friend, Eden Galloway. At sixteen, they decide to run away to LA…but Eden never makes it.
It’s been twelve years since Eden vanished. And Isla’s determined to find her.
She begins at the last place Eden the Corrigan mansion in Virginia. Eden claimed to have unfinished business there. Posing as an aspiring journalist, Isla insinuates herself into the wealthy family’s home and begins searching for the truth.
The more she digs, the more Isla discovers Eden isn’t who she thought she was. Was she even a victim, or did Eden plan this all along? Desperate for answers and to keep her identity hidden, Isla finds an ally in one of the Corrigan sons. But as she wades deeper into this power-hungry family’s secrets and lies, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a bloodline that’s more lethal than loyal.
367 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2026
5193 people are currently reading
10435 people want to read
About the author
Yasmin Angoe
7 books670 followersYasmin Angoe is an action and psychological suspense thriller author, Library of Virginia People’s Choice Award Fiction Finalist, and Anthony-award nominee of the critically acclaimed Her Name is Knight and Not What She Seems. Her Knight series has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah Daily, The Guardian, PopSugar, and Woman’s World book club, and the series is currently optioned for a feature. Yasmin is the recipient of the 2020 Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color and has been nominated for the Anthony Awards and the Library of Virginia’s People’s Choice Award. She is a proud member of organizations such as Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and the Women’s National Book Association. Hailing from Northern Virginia, Yasmin Angoe is a first-generation Ghanaian American and a former English teacher and instructional coach,
She received a Kirkus review calling Her Name Is Knight, “A parable of reclaiming personal and tribal identity by seizing power at all costs".
She received a Kirkus review calling Her Name Is Knight, “A parable of reclaiming personal and tribal identity by seizing power at all costs".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
January 28, 2026
EEEEEK! A brilliant mashup of Succession, Mommy Dearest, and just a bit of We Were Liars, Behind These Four Walls was as riveting as it was chilling. With a truly f***ed-up family at its core, the long list of well-hidden secrets hid a web of evil liars that delivered drama in spades. You see, not only was the plot simply sublime but the fully fleshed out characters came alive on the page through deep backstories and well-drawn personas—even the minor actors in this seriously dysfunctional family. Raw, multifaceted, and true-to-life, they made every single scene, including the few that required me to suspend my disbelief, feel authentic and real. This was so true, in fact, that I read this addictive tale of drama and suspense in one single go. Filled with toxic behaviors and manipulative deeds, I had a blast being a fly on the wall of this palatial home.
What else did I love? Well, the ratcheting pace of this onion-like plot easily pulled me into the lives of these rich people behaving oh so very badly. You see, the gossip, intrigue, and scandal on offer was everything tea lovers like me really love. On top of that, though, this almost all POC cast explored some serious themes such as wealth, trauma, privilege, and morality. Don’t get me wrong, however, it was when the storyline—which was initially slow-boiling—exploded sky high that my fingers started flying through the pages at speed. Paired with an endearing amateur sleuth and a whole host of characters who I loved to hate, the one-two punch of the adrenaline-fueled climax and the explosive dénouement managed to take me out at the knees. Sharp, immersive, and intense, I promise that I won’t be getting over this book anytime soon. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Isla Thorne had a rough start in life. Orphaned young, she spent her formative years in a group home where she met her best friend, Eden Galloway. At sixteen, they decide to run away to LA…but Eden never makes it.
It’s been ten years since Eden vanished. And Isla’s determined to find her.
She begins at the last place Eden visited: the Corrigan mansion in Virginia. Eden claimed to have unfinished business there. Posing as an aspiring journalist, Isla insinuates herself into the wealthy family’s home and begins searching for the truth.
The more she digs, the more Isla discovers Eden isn’t who she thought she was. Was she even a victim, or did Eden plan this all along? Desperate for answers and to keep her identity hidden, Isla finds an ally in one of the Corrigan sons. But as she wades deeper into this power-hungry family’s secrets and lies, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a bloodline that’s more lethal than loyal.
Thank you Yasmin Angoe, Thomas & Mercer, and Over the River PR for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2026
Content warning: suicide, gun violence, classism, fire, car accident, drunk driving, blood, grief, bullying, toxic relationship, infidelity
What else did I love? Well, the ratcheting pace of this onion-like plot easily pulled me into the lives of these rich people behaving oh so very badly. You see, the gossip, intrigue, and scandal on offer was everything tea lovers like me really love. On top of that, though, this almost all POC cast explored some serious themes such as wealth, trauma, privilege, and morality. Don’t get me wrong, however, it was when the storyline—which was initially slow-boiling—exploded sky high that my fingers started flying through the pages at speed. Paired with an endearing amateur sleuth and a whole host of characters who I loved to hate, the one-two punch of the adrenaline-fueled climax and the explosive dénouement managed to take me out at the knees. Sharp, immersive, and intense, I promise that I won’t be getting over this book anytime soon. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Isla Thorne had a rough start in life. Orphaned young, she spent her formative years in a group home where she met her best friend, Eden Galloway. At sixteen, they decide to run away to LA…but Eden never makes it.
It’s been ten years since Eden vanished. And Isla’s determined to find her.
She begins at the last place Eden visited: the Corrigan mansion in Virginia. Eden claimed to have unfinished business there. Posing as an aspiring journalist, Isla insinuates herself into the wealthy family’s home and begins searching for the truth.
The more she digs, the more Isla discovers Eden isn’t who she thought she was. Was she even a victim, or did Eden plan this all along? Desperate for answers and to keep her identity hidden, Isla finds an ally in one of the Corrigan sons. But as she wades deeper into this power-hungry family’s secrets and lies, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a bloodline that’s more lethal than loyal.
Thank you Yasmin Angoe, Thomas & Mercer, and Over the River PR for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2026
Content warning: suicide, gun violence, classism, fire, car accident, drunk driving, blood, grief, bullying, toxic relationship, infidelity
August 17, 2025
“Behind These Walls” was an extremely slow burn. I was intrigued by the plot of this story but I felt the set up was overextended. It took too long to engage me with the meaningful character development and the plot progression. Though, in the early chapters, Angoe crafted a chilling atmosphere inside the Corrigan home. With each chapter came a sense of dread. The characters were layered and drove the mystery. Like the multi dimensional characters c the themes of power, trauma and hidden identity were woven seamlessly into the narrative.
Despite the promising premise Yasmin Angoe offered, the pacing was sluggish, and I struggled to connect emotionally with the characters. I’d suggest “Behind These Four Walls” to those who appreciate slow-burn mysteries, dark family secrets, and morally gray protagonists.
Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy even though this book wasn’t a match for me.
Despite the promising premise Yasmin Angoe offered, the pacing was sluggish, and I struggled to connect emotionally with the characters. I’d suggest “Behind These Four Walls” to those who appreciate slow-burn mysteries, dark family secrets, and morally gray protagonists.
Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy even though this book wasn’t a match for me.
December 3, 2025
The longest winded way of saying you hate white people. Literally. It’s white hate with a loose storyline. I couldn’t even finish it, and I’m okay with that bc the story was not good either.
September 12, 2025
10 years ago Isla got separated from her best friend as they were running away to Los Angeles. She never heard from her again, but now Isla is back and ready to try and find out what happened to Eden all those years ago. Her only clue being Eden's difficulties with her mother's ex employer, a billionaire's family, the Corrigans.
The beginning of the book is very well written, it keeps you engaged and slowly let's you meet the main character, Isla and her coworkers / friends. She goes on to meet the Corrigans, things are fine, you slowly learn what Isla's job really is (I did find that a little confusing at first, since it seemed like any task she was doing was just another cover up) and it's an interesting read. The plot is a little obvious because it is very generic but the writing was good so far, the story flowed and the characters seemed interesting. For me the way something is written can even turn a very basic story into something enjoyable that you don't want to put down and this book had that.
And then.. At the 50% mark pretty much exactly, things go downhill. I have no idea what happened, but the writing became so hard to enjoy, the main character, Isla, who until then kept portraying herself as this bad ass private investigator suddenly turns just plain stupid (I mean how many times can a supposedly experienced investigator break into some place and then forget to watch out for being caught?!) and the flow of the story just changed. Suddenly the characters just did things to further the plot instead of experiencing what was going to happen. Loose ends were just that.. Left loose. The villain of the story proved to have zero character except being evil. Characters suddenly knew things or had things they didn't have before, because "they did it earlier". If you're going to tell a story, then take the reader along for those things! And the text in the back, talking about exploring corruption and wealth? Yeah, it's just "rich people get away with everything but look at all the cool stuff they have!".
After such a strong start this was quite disappointing.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The beginning of the book is very well written, it keeps you engaged and slowly let's you meet the main character, Isla and her coworkers / friends. She goes on to meet the Corrigans, things are fine, you slowly learn what Isla's job really is (I did find that a little confusing at first, since it seemed like any task she was doing was just another cover up) and it's an interesting read. The plot is a little obvious because it is very generic but the writing was good so far, the story flowed and the characters seemed interesting. For me the way something is written can even turn a very basic story into something enjoyable that you don't want to put down and this book had that.
And then.. At the 50% mark pretty much exactly, things go downhill. I have no idea what happened, but the writing became so hard to enjoy, the main character, Isla, who until then kept portraying herself as this bad ass private investigator suddenly turns just plain stupid (I mean how many times can a supposedly experienced investigator break into some place and then forget to watch out for being caught?!) and the flow of the story just changed. Suddenly the characters just did things to further the plot instead of experiencing what was going to happen. Loose ends were just that.. Left loose. The villain of the story proved to have zero character except being evil. Characters suddenly knew things or had things they didn't have before, because "they did it earlier". If you're going to tell a story, then take the reader along for those things! And the text in the back, talking about exploring corruption and wealth? Yeah, it's just "rich people get away with everything but look at all the cool stuff they have!".
After such a strong start this was quite disappointing.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 15, 2025
3.5 rounded up
I love mysterious family drama as a setting for a thriller and this one delivered the drama. While some aspect were hard to believe at times, I did enjoy the overall plot. The ending lost me a bit, but up until the last 10% I was invested in the story. Recommended for fans of slow burn mysteries, messy families, and uncovering years old crimes.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
I love mysterious family drama as a setting for a thriller and this one delivered the drama. While some aspect were hard to believe at times, I did enjoy the overall plot. The ending lost me a bit, but up until the last 10% I was invested in the story. Recommended for fans of slow burn mysteries, messy families, and uncovering years old crimes.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
January 20, 2026
Book Title: Behind These Four Walls
Author: Yasmin Angoe
Publishers: Thomas & Mercer & Brilliance Audio
Pub Date: January 1st, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: January 18, 2026 – January 19, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Behind These Four Walls is my second time reading Angoe, and it has cemented her as a must-read author for me. The pacing of this book never quit, and I was filled with so much anxiety as Isla infiltrated the Corrigan family. The secrets and lies that she uncovers as she searches for answers about Eden’s disappearance are shocking to say the least, and the twists totally threw me for a loop. This has action all the way to the end and I loved every minute. I do think there were some unnecessary POV’s thrown in, but that is just a small thing in an otherwise spellbinding thriller.
🎧 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: Carmen Jewel Jones did a lovely job narrating this book, especially since it had a few other minor POVs besides Isla. She didn’t change her voice for them, but that was perfectly fine by me, and she added an extra pep that livened up the story even in the most action-packed scenes. I wasn’t confused by the inclusion of the other viewpoints either, so I would wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🔏🚙🥃📒🤥
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫 (none)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Yasmin Angoe
Publishers: Thomas & Mercer & Brilliance Audio
Pub Date: January 1st, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: January 18, 2026 – January 19, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Behind These Four Walls is my second time reading Angoe, and it has cemented her as a must-read author for me. The pacing of this book never quit, and I was filled with so much anxiety as Isla infiltrated the Corrigan family. The secrets and lies that she uncovers as she searches for answers about Eden’s disappearance are shocking to say the least, and the twists totally threw me for a loop. This has action all the way to the end and I loved every minute. I do think there were some unnecessary POV’s thrown in, but that is just a small thing in an otherwise spellbinding thriller.
🎧 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: Carmen Jewel Jones did a lovely job narrating this book, especially since it had a few other minor POVs besides Isla. She didn’t change her voice for them, but that was perfectly fine by me, and she added an extra pep that livened up the story even in the most action-packed scenes. I wasn’t confused by the inclusion of the other viewpoints either, so I would wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🔏🚙🥃📒🤥
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫 (none)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 10, 2025
Out January 1st, 2026
Yasmin Angoe absolutely delivers with Behind These Four Walls. This book grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. It’s intense, emotional, and full of sharp twists that hit like gut punches. The story dives deep into secrets, survival, and the kind of strength that only comes from being pushed to the edge. Angoe’s writing is tight and immersive—you feel like you’re right there, trapped in the tension, trying to breathe through the chaos.
What makes it so good isn’t just the suspense—it’s the heart. The characters are layered and raw, especially the lead, who’s navigating trauma, truth, and the fight to reclaim her life. You root for her hard. It’s one of those books that makes you stay up way too late because you have to know what happens next. If you want a thriller that’s smart, emotional, and totally gripping, this one’s a knockout.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!
Yasmin Angoe absolutely delivers with Behind These Four Walls. This book grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. It’s intense, emotional, and full of sharp twists that hit like gut punches. The story dives deep into secrets, survival, and the kind of strength that only comes from being pushed to the edge. Angoe’s writing is tight and immersive—you feel like you’re right there, trapped in the tension, trying to breathe through the chaos.
What makes it so good isn’t just the suspense—it’s the heart. The characters are layered and raw, especially the lead, who’s navigating trauma, truth, and the fight to reclaim her life. You root for her hard. It’s one of those books that makes you stay up way too late because you have to know what happens next. If you want a thriller that’s smart, emotional, and totally gripping, this one’s a knockout.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!
January 14, 2026
This book was decent. Did it blow me away? No. Was it a good storyline? Yea. Has it been done before? Yes.
The writing was good, the pacing was ok, and everything else seemed pretty underwhelming. It might also be because I read A LOT of thrillers and mysteries.
I would recommend this book to someone who is new to the genre. I think they’d have a better appreciation for the book!
The writing was good, the pacing was ok, and everything else seemed pretty underwhelming. It might also be because I read A LOT of thrillers and mysteries.
I would recommend this book to someone who is new to the genre. I think they’d have a better appreciation for the book!
dnf-d
January 14, 2026DNF @ 40%. I wanted to enjoy this one but nothing about it compels me. I don't care about any of these characters or the story being told, and I wish I did. But sadly, I'm going to have to admit this one is a loss. I'm not enjoying it, so I won't force myself through the remainder.
January 5, 2026
I finished yesterday and I'm still thinking about this story.
This is my first read by Yasmin Angoe. She didn't disappoint because my attention was captured from the prologue.
Then the next chapter fast forwards to Isla in present day, which is 6 months later. I cried again by the end of this story, or rather close to the end and all the way up to the end.
You're sick one. Ooooo so good. I want to read this again for the first time, but I also do not because Brooke irritated my soul.
This is my first read by Yasmin Angoe. She didn't disappoint because my attention was captured from the prologue.
Then the next chapter fast forwards to Isla in present day, which is 6 months later. I cried again by the end of this story, or rather close to the end and all the way up to the end.
You're sick one. Ooooo so good. I want to read this again for the first time, but I also do not because Brooke irritated my soul.
January 30, 2026
Behind These Four Walls by Yasmine Angoe is the first book I finished in 2026.
I hit about 60% this afternoon and then couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page.
This was a very slow burn and only ramped up towards the end when the thriller portion hit. Until then it was a fact finding mission for Isla who infiltrates a billionaire’s family to find out what happened to her missing best friend a decade before.
There were several characters that I loved which needed more book time and that was Holland Corrigan, and Isla’s behind the scenes friends/colleagues.
This was definitely a fascinating insight into the family dynamics of the very rich and famous.
If you’re a fan of slow burn mysteries and family drama, you will enjoy this story.
*Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing, and to OTRPR for the beautiful gifted finished copy!*
I hit about 60% this afternoon and then couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page.
This was a very slow burn and only ramped up towards the end when the thriller portion hit. Until then it was a fact finding mission for Isla who infiltrates a billionaire’s family to find out what happened to her missing best friend a decade before.
There were several characters that I loved which needed more book time and that was Holland Corrigan, and Isla’s behind the scenes friends/colleagues.
This was definitely a fascinating insight into the family dynamics of the very rich and famous.
If you’re a fan of slow burn mysteries and family drama, you will enjoy this story.
*Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing, and to OTRPR for the beautiful gifted finished copy!*
July 7, 2025
Behind These Four Walls by Yasmin Angoe
“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
This book was so good! It’s about two best friends, Isla and Eden, who run away together. But Eden has unfinished business to take care of. She leaves Isla but promises to return but Eden vanishes. Isla is a minor and afraid she’ll be caught and returned to the group home she ran from. A decade later Isla returns to find out the truth about what happened to her friend. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book. It’s a fast, easy read and worth every one of the five stars I gave it. I hadn’t read this author before but she is now on my top ten list of favorites! Release date December 16, 2025
“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
This book was so good! It’s about two best friends, Isla and Eden, who run away together. But Eden has unfinished business to take care of. She leaves Isla but promises to return but Eden vanishes. Isla is a minor and afraid she’ll be caught and returned to the group home she ran from. A decade later Isla returns to find out the truth about what happened to her friend. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book. It’s a fast, easy read and worth every one of the five stars I gave it. I hadn’t read this author before but she is now on my top ten list of favorites! Release date December 16, 2025
January 17, 2026
In 𝑩𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 we discover the lengths Isla goes to find out what happened to her best friend, Eden, who disappeared 10 years ago. Friends, when I tell you this had me on the edge of my seat, I am dead serious. This author builds the suspense so well they kept me guessing throughout this story! I enjoyed the timeline showing us present day and the past to give us the backstory on their relationship and insight into the Corrigan family. The characters are fully developed, creating depth where I felt like I could truly relate to them. I wasn’t sure about Isla at first because she does have some sneaky ways about her, but it just speaks to how much she adored her bff. She stopped at NOTHING to get to the bottom of Eden’s disappearance , even when it meant risking her own life. This is a book you definitely must add to your tbr!
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓈ℴ 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 @author_yasminangoe 𝒶𝓃𝒹 @otrpr 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉ℯ𝒹 𝒸ℴ𝓅𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℴ𝓅𝓅ℴ𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝓉ℴ 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 & 𝒷ℯ 𝒶 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓂𝒶𝓏𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉ℴ𝓊𝓇.
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓈ℴ 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 @author_yasminangoe 𝒶𝓃𝒹 @otrpr 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉ℯ𝒹 𝒸ℴ𝓅𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℴ𝓅𝓅ℴ𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝓉ℴ 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 & 𝒷ℯ 𝒶 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓂𝒶𝓏𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉ℴ𝓊𝓇.
January 14, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was a decent mystery/thriller that had a plot twist that was semi predictable.
Likes:
- The relationship with Edie and Isla
- The suspense of the hunt (IYKYK)
- the narrator’s voice
- the drama with the family
Dislikes:
- Isla acted shocked that Eden and Edie were the same person which was meh
- Holland is 19 but felt like a 16-17 year old with her dialogue
- This rich of a family didn’t do more background checks?
Overall a decent read and one that I think many that enjoy this genre will like!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audiobook ARC.
This was a decent mystery/thriller that had a plot twist that was semi predictable.
Likes:
- The relationship with Edie and Isla
- The suspense of the hunt (IYKYK)
- the narrator’s voice
- the drama with the family
Dislikes:
- Isla acted shocked that Eden and Edie were the same person which was meh
- Holland is 19 but felt like a 16-17 year old with her dialogue
- This rich of a family didn’t do more background checks?
Overall a decent read and one that I think many that enjoy this genre will like!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audiobook ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2026
A very slow burn with a satisfying ending.
January 16, 2026
Audiobook 3.5
January 8, 2026
I’m still processing. This book had me STRESSED! This is the first suspense novel that had me jumping out of my seat yelling at the characters like I was watching a show…my cortisol levels are high now. I need a nap to recover.
If you like tense, stressful, nerve racking situations with a satisfying ending read this book.
TW: grief, some language, violence, tense situations
If you like tense, stressful, nerve racking situations with a satisfying ending read this book.
TW: grief, some language, violence, tense situations
January 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Now, on to the review.
Wow! This book originally pulled me in with its description. Behind These Four Walls and I had a rough start, I tried to read it and found it difficult to connect with BUT.. If you just keep reading, it unravels little by little. It honestly keeps you on the edge of your seat, so much so that I was up way too late finishing the book. There is so much that happens in the past and in the present. Yasmin did an amazing job, I was in shock and on edge the whole time. Imagining all Isla went through, what she had to do, and how strong she had to be in this book. I felt like I was with Isla as I was reading, being able to know a little bit of the past and learning more as she did. Definitely recommend, I had a fabulous time!
Wow! This book originally pulled me in with its description. Behind These Four Walls and I had a rough start, I tried to read it and found it difficult to connect with BUT.. If you just keep reading, it unravels little by little. It honestly keeps you on the edge of your seat, so much so that I was up way too late finishing the book. There is so much that happens in the past and in the present. Yasmin did an amazing job, I was in shock and on edge the whole time. Imagining all Isla went through, what she had to do, and how strong she had to be in this book. I felt like I was with Isla as I was reading, being able to know a little bit of the past and learning more as she did. Definitely recommend, I had a fabulous time!
December 29, 2025
I was hooked from the very beginning. This book was so well written! The characters, even the auxiliary ones, had so much depth to them. I loved Isla’s backstory and it really added to her drive to get to the truth, no matter the cost. At no point did I correctly guess who the villain was, and even when they were revealed, I still couldn’t quite believe it. I will be reading more from this author!
December 16, 2025
**Amazon first reads** Isla is on a mission to learn what happened to her best friend when the family she believes is behind it, caused her company to set up an innocent man who took his own life because of it. Now she wants to get back at them while trying to figure out what happened to her friend. Upon arrival she already begins to learn her friend was not completely honest with her. But investigation will become a lil difficult considering the family is well known.
I didn’t like that she was able to get so much information so easily. And no one saw it as odd that she kept pushing for the information about her friend. It made everyone around her dense even though they were suspicious of her.
I didn’t like that she was able to get so much information so easily. And no one saw it as odd that she kept pushing for the information about her friend. It made everyone around her dense even though they were suspicious of her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2025
Rather boring :/ wanted to like it
January 9, 2026
My thoughts
This is my first book by this author.
While I did think this was a slow burn story and it drove me crazy in places, it was an ok read. I didn't like a lot of the characters and could not connect with them. I really didn't like the main character Isla. She could have been a very strong woman but in so many places she came across as weak. At first she is ok but then she does a lot of stupid things that someone in her line of work just would not do.
This really was a slow burn story. The beginning will pull you in but then about a third of the way it loses something. But when you hit the seventy percent point it seems to take off again.
A story of two friends. Best friends. One is an orphan who left the home she was in. Isla and Eden became the best of friends. Eden was caring for her mother who was dying and Isla was there helping. Eden loves her mother very much and has hostility for her father. Isla has no idea what is in store when they leave to. Eden says she has some loose ends to tie up after her mom dies. She needs to take care of something. When she hops in the van and leaves it's the last time Isla sees her friend.
Isla wants to know what happened to her friend. It's ten years later and she makes it her mission to find her or find out what happened. It's all tied to the mega rich family. The Corrigans. Victor Corrigan is being presented an award. He is not that excited about it but does let Isla follow and write a paper on him and how he came to be who he is. The things she uncovers are suppose to be kept buried though. She also finds out things about her best friend, Eden. So many secrets her friend has kept from her.
Each Corrigan family member seems to have big secrets. Especially Victor's wife. I really disliked her. She was a bad woman. She was also Victor's second wife.
There are four Corrigan children, until there is not. Until there is only three. The Corrigan's are multi billionaires. More money than sense it seems. I liked Victor but he could be brash at times. Though I guess he had to be. But he was human. He had heart.
The last thirty percent of this book had me captivated. I didn't want to put it down. It saved the whole story for me. I'm glad I finished it even though I didn't like the whole story a lot. It dragged in places that could have been so much better. Not that I'm an author but I do know a good story when I read one. This one was ok. Not great. Just ok.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.
This is my first book by this author.
While I did think this was a slow burn story and it drove me crazy in places, it was an ok read. I didn't like a lot of the characters and could not connect with them. I really didn't like the main character Isla. She could have been a very strong woman but in so many places she came across as weak. At first she is ok but then she does a lot of stupid things that someone in her line of work just would not do.
This really was a slow burn story. The beginning will pull you in but then about a third of the way it loses something. But when you hit the seventy percent point it seems to take off again.
A story of two friends. Best friends. One is an orphan who left the home she was in. Isla and Eden became the best of friends. Eden was caring for her mother who was dying and Isla was there helping. Eden loves her mother very much and has hostility for her father. Isla has no idea what is in store when they leave to. Eden says she has some loose ends to tie up after her mom dies. She needs to take care of something. When she hops in the van and leaves it's the last time Isla sees her friend.
Isla wants to know what happened to her friend. It's ten years later and she makes it her mission to find her or find out what happened. It's all tied to the mega rich family. The Corrigans. Victor Corrigan is being presented an award. He is not that excited about it but does let Isla follow and write a paper on him and how he came to be who he is. The things she uncovers are suppose to be kept buried though. She also finds out things about her best friend, Eden. So many secrets her friend has kept from her.
Each Corrigan family member seems to have big secrets. Especially Victor's wife. I really disliked her. She was a bad woman. She was also Victor's second wife.
There are four Corrigan children, until there is not. Until there is only three. The Corrigan's are multi billionaires. More money than sense it seems. I liked Victor but he could be brash at times. Though I guess he had to be. But he was human. He had heart.
The last thirty percent of this book had me captivated. I didn't want to put it down. It saved the whole story for me. I'm glad I finished it even though I didn't like the whole story a lot. It dragged in places that could have been so much better. Not that I'm an author but I do know a good story when I read one. This one was ok. Not great. Just ok.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.
January 29, 2026
[NetGalley Read #61]
4.00 ⭐️
"Even I have feelings, contrary to popular belief."
This was a good slow burn mystery.
The plot is intricately woven with fine threads. There are several mysteries throughout the story, starting with that haunting prologue. Then there is our main character, Isla Thorne, conducting a whole different operation to get inside the Corrigan residence in the first chapter. The opening chapters set up her character nicely, showing how good she is at her job, a job that involves deception and some dirty work, but also that she is a good person, evident by the guilt she feels for deceiving someone innocent, like Holland. From there, slowly, we get to see the work that Isla does with Rey and Nat. We also see the Corrigan family members and get brief but important glimpses into Isla's past and her friendship with Eden and Elise.
While I found the book more plot focused (that's not a criticism, I like reading a good plot), there is a good emotional core to the story with Isla and Eden's friendship. Characters were a mix for me. I liked Isla, Jackson, Victor, and Eden (even in her short appearance). Brooke, Bennett, Charli, while absolutely despicable human beings, are still good characters. Myles felt like a waste of a character. Like, give him something to do other than brooding and 'staying in the shadows'. I feel like the one thing of consequence he did was in the third act. Other times, he was just...there. Other than that, I think the characters were good, even the side characters like the Uber and Lyft drivers, Becca, Detective Bowen, and the house staff were entertaining to read.
It's a short-ish to medium length book (340+ pages). Easy to read. A slow burn with a good, satisfying conclusion.
Recommended. 👍
4.00 ⭐️
"Even I have feelings, contrary to popular belief."
This was a good slow burn mystery.
The plot is intricately woven with fine threads. There are several mysteries throughout the story, starting with that haunting prologue. Then there is our main character, Isla Thorne, conducting a whole different operation to get inside the Corrigan residence in the first chapter. The opening chapters set up her character nicely, showing how good she is at her job, a job that involves deception and some dirty work, but also that she is a good person, evident by the guilt she feels for deceiving someone innocent, like Holland. From there, slowly, we get to see the work that Isla does with Rey and Nat. We also see the Corrigan family members and get brief but important glimpses into Isla's past and her friendship with Eden and Elise.
While I found the book more plot focused (that's not a criticism, I like reading a good plot), there is a good emotional core to the story with Isla and Eden's friendship. Characters were a mix for me. I liked Isla, Jackson, Victor, and Eden (even in her short appearance). Brooke, Bennett, Charli, while absolutely despicable human beings, are still good characters. Myles felt like a waste of a character. Like, give him something to do other than brooding and 'staying in the shadows'. I feel like the one thing of consequence he did was in the third act. Other times, he was just...there. Other than that, I think the characters were good, even the side characters like the Uber and Lyft drivers, Becca, Detective Bowen, and the house staff were entertaining to read.
It's a short-ish to medium length book (340+ pages). Easy to read. A slow burn with a good, satisfying conclusion.
Recommended. 👍
January 18, 2026
Yasmin Angoe, the Author of “Behind These Four Walls” has written an exhilarating, suspenseful and captivating novel. The Genres for this Novel are: Women Sleuths, Domestic Thrillers, Mystery, Suspense,Psychological Thrillers and Fiction. In this well-written novel, there are betrayals, danger, gaslighting, twists and turns, unexpected and surprising events, deep secrets, an unbalanced and toxic family, missing people, threats and murder. The author vividly describes the dark and dramatic characters as complex, complicated, unbalanced, flawed, manipulative, greedy, vengeful, and dangerous. Some could be suspects to criminal activity.
Isla Thorne, the protagonist in the story is obsessed with finding her dearest friend Eden, who disappeared years before. Isla had been an orphan, and Eden and her mother had helped Isla. The last time Isla saw Eden was when she disappeared after going to seek out the Corrigans a very important and powerful family in Virginia. Isla has been tracking the family and looking for a way to get information about her friend. Isla acts as a journalist to get information about the very successful father, Victor Corrigan, the head of a huge company. It is a bumpy and edgy road to discovery that Isla is on to seek the truth. Is Eden really who she said she was?
This is a story where I was sitting at the edge of my seat, and biting my nails. I was waiting for the unthinkable to happen. The Corrigan family is toxic and unpleasant. Isla should sleep with one eye open. I was truly surprised by the challenges presented and the climatic ending of the story. I highly recommend this suspenseful, memorable and thought-provoking novel.
Isla Thorne, the protagonist in the story is obsessed with finding her dearest friend Eden, who disappeared years before. Isla had been an orphan, and Eden and her mother had helped Isla. The last time Isla saw Eden was when she disappeared after going to seek out the Corrigans a very important and powerful family in Virginia. Isla has been tracking the family and looking for a way to get information about her friend. Isla acts as a journalist to get information about the very successful father, Victor Corrigan, the head of a huge company. It is a bumpy and edgy road to discovery that Isla is on to seek the truth. Is Eden really who she said she was?
This is a story where I was sitting at the edge of my seat, and biting my nails. I was waiting for the unthinkable to happen. The Corrigan family is toxic and unpleasant. Isla should sleep with one eye open. I was truly surprised by the challenges presented and the climatic ending of the story. I highly recommend this suspenseful, memorable and thought-provoking novel.
January 19, 2026
《3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️》
Years after her best friend Eden vanished, Isla Thorne follows the last clue Eden left behind to the estate of a powerful and wealthy family. Determined to uncover the truth, Isla inserts herself into the Corrigan household. What she finds is a world built on privilege, secrecy, and carefully controlled narratives. As Isla digs deeper, the Corrigan's curated facade begins to crack, revealing buried sins and dangerous motives. At the same time, Isla is forced to confront an unsettling possibility. Eden may not have been the helpless victim Isla believed her to be. With danger closing in and trust in short supply, Isla must decide how far she is willing to go for the truth and what that truth might ultimately cost.
Behind These Four Walls pulled me in with its glossy on the surface but rotten underneath vibes. This was very much a slow burn psychological thriller, so if you like tension that simmers rather than explodes, this will be a great choice. Isla as a main character is driven and obsessive as she infiltrates the Corrigan's world searching for Eden. And just when you think you understand what is going on, Angoe starts pulling the rug out from under you. The atmosphere is thick and the secrets are juicy. One critique I have is that it does take a bit for the action to pick up which kept this from being a higher rated read for me, but I think overall the story delivers enough to make the journey worth it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Yasmin Angoe, and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC and Over the River PR for the physical copy and for my spot on the blog tour!
Years after her best friend Eden vanished, Isla Thorne follows the last clue Eden left behind to the estate of a powerful and wealthy family. Determined to uncover the truth, Isla inserts herself into the Corrigan household. What she finds is a world built on privilege, secrecy, and carefully controlled narratives. As Isla digs deeper, the Corrigan's curated facade begins to crack, revealing buried sins and dangerous motives. At the same time, Isla is forced to confront an unsettling possibility. Eden may not have been the helpless victim Isla believed her to be. With danger closing in and trust in short supply, Isla must decide how far she is willing to go for the truth and what that truth might ultimately cost.
Behind These Four Walls pulled me in with its glossy on the surface but rotten underneath vibes. This was very much a slow burn psychological thriller, so if you like tension that simmers rather than explodes, this will be a great choice. Isla as a main character is driven and obsessive as she infiltrates the Corrigan's world searching for Eden. And just when you think you understand what is going on, Angoe starts pulling the rug out from under you. The atmosphere is thick and the secrets are juicy. One critique I have is that it does take a bit for the action to pick up which kept this from being a higher rated read for me, but I think overall the story delivers enough to make the journey worth it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Yasmin Angoe, and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC and Over the River PR for the physical copy and for my spot on the blog tour!
January 23, 2026
3.5⭐️s. A little of a slow rolling mystery/fiction - I wouldn’t consider it a thriller, as it lacked suspense to me, but it was an interesting story nonetheless.
Isla was good as a MC - not perfect, conflicted, but loyal to her friend. And the villains of the story were well done as people you genuinely disliked.
It did kind of feel like there was a lot of too-convenient situations in the plot where everything just works out for Isla. And while most of the characters and outcomes were relatively predictable, the ending wasn’t as cut and dry as I thought it’d be, so I appreciated that.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
Isla was good as a MC - not perfect, conflicted, but loyal to her friend. And the villains of the story were well done as people you genuinely disliked.
It did kind of feel like there was a lot of too-convenient situations in the plot where everything just works out for Isla. And while most of the characters and outcomes were relatively predictable, the ending wasn’t as cut and dry as I thought it’d be, so I appreciated that.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
Review of advance copy
DNF: I don't usually review or DNF books for that matter, but because this is a pre publication, I was prompted by Goodreads to do so, so I will. This book was available as a free download through Amazon for Kindle owners and I thought the premise sounded very interesting so I jumped in. Unfortunately I could barely make it through chapter 12 before I had to call it quits. Maybe it's the authors writing style, but the storyline seemed very disconnected and confusing, especially regarding the main character. It's she a caterer? A caregiver? A researcher for a makeshift group of what is essentially private investigators? The only thing I do know 20% in is that she is suspicious of a powerful family because that is the only clear and believable plot line. This is explained ad nauseum without development to any other aspects of the story.
January 30, 2026
Predicted
I struggled with this one and almost DNF but wanted to know if my prediction was correct. And it was. Finally picked up with about 100 pages left of the book. I did love the movie reference of one of my favorites from that era, and, did seem like an accurate portrayal of Brooke!
I struggled with this one and almost DNF but wanted to know if my prediction was correct. And it was. Finally picked up with about 100 pages left of the book. I did love the movie reference of one of my favorites from that era, and, did seem like an accurate portrayal of Brooke!
January 7, 2026
Behind These Four Walls pulled me in with its emotional hook more than its twists. The story follows Isla, who has never stopped looking for answers about her best friend Eden’s disappearance years earlier. When a lead connects Eden to a powerful, wealthy family, Isla inserts herself into their world, hoping to finally uncover the truth. I liked how personal the mystery felt from the start — this isn’t just about solving a case, it’s about guilt, loyalty, and unfinished business.
The strength of the book really lies in Isla as a character. Her determination and emotional baggage made her easy to root for, and I appreciated that the investigation unfolded gradually rather than relying on nonstop shock moments. The atmosphere is tense and uneasy, especially as Isla gets closer to people who clearly have a lot to hide. That said, the pacing does slow at times, and a few plot turns felt more expected than surprising, which slightly dulled the impact for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this one more than I expected. I was really drawn to Isla and the emotional weight behind her search, even when the story slowed down or a few twists felt a bit predictable. It’s not a thriller that relies on shock value, but the atmosphere and character focus kept me engaged, and I was glad I picked it up. A solid four-star read for me.
The strength of the book really lies in Isla as a character. Her determination and emotional baggage made her easy to root for, and I appreciated that the investigation unfolded gradually rather than relying on nonstop shock moments. The atmosphere is tense and uneasy, especially as Isla gets closer to people who clearly have a lot to hide. That said, the pacing does slow at times, and a few plot turns felt more expected than surprising, which slightly dulled the impact for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this one more than I expected. I was really drawn to Isla and the emotional weight behind her search, even when the story slowed down or a few twists felt a bit predictable. It’s not a thriller that relies on shock value, but the atmosphere and character focus kept me engaged, and I was glad I picked it up. A solid four-star read for me.
January 13, 2026
Meh. Interesting premise, not well executed. Needs major editing. Main character was a mix of unlikable, unbelievable, and unrealistic.
changing the narrator 95% of the way through the book - nope nope nope
changing the narrator 95% of the way through the book - nope nope nope
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