Best Boy

by Deborah Goodrich Royce

A gripping psychological thriller, Best Boy teeters on the knife-edge of memory and identity when the arrival of a shocking letter threatens the carefully constructed life of a woman desperate to outrun her past.

Viveca Stevenson has it a handsome and successful husband, an adorable ten-year-old son, and a coastal dream house in Greenwich, Connecticut. She has a solid group of girlfriends and is content with the afterglow of the film career she’s left behind. But when a threatening letter arrives—from a man she does not remember—it cracks open a part of her past she thought was buried for good.

A terrifying chain of events is set in motion, forcing Viveca to confront what happened on a shattering Halloween night in high school when she had a different name, a different face, a different voice. Who is the man contacting her now and was he really the best boy on her most famous film, Misty? Why can’t she remember him—or that night?

A taut psychological thriller, Best Boy explores identity, memory, and the dangerous power of forgetting.

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

280 pages, Hardcover

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road, a national bestseller, was named one of the best
books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews and an Indie Next pick by the ABA. Ruby Falls won
the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist, and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book
Riot, and Good Morning America. Her newest, Best Boy, will be published on February
24, 2026.
Her Ocean House Author Series—in partnership with Martin House Books and WCRI—
brings world-class authors like Sarah Ferguson, Emma Straub, Chris Bohjalian, and
Katie Couric to Watch Hill. With fellow authors, Luanne Rice and Amy Scheibe, she
created the Deer Mountain Writers’ Retreat in the Catskills.
Deborah writes a book column for Providence Monthly and Hey Rhody magazines. She
began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films, before transitioning to the
role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago
and A Wrinkle in Time.
Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree and two honorary doctorates, from both Lake
Erie College and the University of Rhode Island. With her husband, Chuck, Deborah
restored the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, United Theatre,
Martin House Books, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island
and the Catskills. She serves on multiple governing and advisory boards.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best Boy- in a film crew is the chief assistant to the Gaffer or Key Grip.

1998 -Ingrid Lind, a Halloween party, hazy memories, a hospital bed, multiple aches and pain, cop questions and more agony but all she can clearly remember is arriving at the party and waking next morning on the school parking lot. In the aftermath, many believe she has suffered a terrifying ordeal whereas others do not. She is forever changed, inside and out and two years later she leaves her nowhere town and heads west towards a reinvention.

2018. Former successful actress Viveca Stephenson lives happily in Greenwich with husband Henry and son Theo, who is her best boy but an unpleasant letter from another best boy threatens to shatter the peace she has created from the wreckage of her past as a sequence of events unleash.

This domestic suspense/psychological thriller has a number of good elements to it and it’s certainly atmospheric. I like the angle the author takes on memory and the conundrum of what’s true, what is conjured up or projected or indeed forced in order to cover up gaps. There’s a good focus on identity via the deeply flawed and damaged character of Viveca who becomes increasingly uncertain of what is real and what is not. There are some creepy and unsettling scenes which further unseat Viveca’s stability. At times, perhaps she’s guilty of seeing the things she wants to see rather than what is actually there but given the circumstances her reactions are understandable. There is, however, a different kind of guilt lurking at the heart of it all and there’s much mystery that surrounds a lot of this.

Unfortunately, after an intriguing start it goes off track and so loses my attention from time to time. This is because the author cannot resist giving very detailed and extraneous descriptions which totally take my eyes off the plot ball. Whilst there’s much to be said for the technique of the past fusing with the present, some of the backtracking jars so it doesn’t flow well and to be honest at times it makes my head spin. As for the ending after all the buildup, the tension, the suspense, the blind alleys and red herrings, it’s part melodramatic and part weakly disappointing. I expected it to go out with a bang and it’s a whimper.

Overall, it’s far from being a bad book as it has much to recommend it but it’s not without its issues in my opinion.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Post Hill Press for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: Best Boy
Author: Deborah Goodrich Royce
Publishers: Post Hill Press + Blackstone Publishing
Pub Date: February 24, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: February 26, 2026 – February 27, 2026

🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Best Boy is only my second time reading Goodrich Royce, the other title being Ruby Falls, and I have to say this is my favorite of the two. I’m sitting somewhere between 4.25-4.5 on star rating, and I found this to be a very pacy and enjoyable read. The timelines jump around quite a bit with multiple timelines for Viveca as well as past chapters for a girl named Ingrid. Those chapters really pulled at my heartstrings, and I loved that the author managed to make me practically cry my eyes out as well as gasp multiple times. You should check out triggers prior to reading, but I went in mostly blind and absolutely loved the ride this one took me on.

🎧 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: One of my favorites narrates and that my friends, is the amazingly talented Saskia Maarleveld. I did have to slow my speed down a bit in this instance, but she did an excellent job voicing our FMC Viveca. Emotions ran high in this psychological thriller, and she nailed every single one of them. 10/10 would recommend the audiobook, especially if you naturally listen at a slower speed.

T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 📬🤔👺💔

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint! I absolutely love this author and her books!

Viveca Stephenson seems to have it all: a handsome, successful husband, an amazing 10-year-old son, and the coastal house in Greenwich, CT everyone dreams about. She put her dark past behind her by changing her name and reinventing herself, and she's put her acting career on the back burner to raise her son. Until one day she receives a letter in the mail that turns her whole world upside down. As terrifying events start to happen, it seems it's time for Viveca to confront her past.

This was a truly riveting read! It was a slow burn that captivated me from the very first page! It was suspenseful, and there was so much tension it kept me completely glued to the pages! It was twisty, and the ending seriously blew me away! The explorations of memory and trauma were intriguing, and I enjoyed the dual timelines. Ingrid/Viveca was quite an interesting character. I seriously love how the author incorporates some of her experiences into her books! This was a completely addictive, bingeable, entertaining psychological thriller that I loved! I would HIGHLY recommend adding this one to your TBR.🩷

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

BEST BOY was the 1st novel by Deborah Royce I have read, and I am at a lost to explain whether I liked it, or not!
The author's style of writing kept me going as I turned pages just to see what would come next! The author made that somewhat difficult for me, as she jumped around from 2018,,,then, 1990-94.....then to the early 2000's. Royce continued this constant jumping from year to year, both going forward and backward through then entire novel.
What happened in each of these 'jumps' followed the two main characters throughout this novel.
I kept turning the pages as my interest grew. At the same time I found it difficult to link all the many events and understand how each one related to one many years before or many years later.

Despite my difficulty.....I found myself turning the pages rapidly, as I found the author's style intriguing. Often I would find a chapter that had me going back to reread an earlier one to see more clearly just how they were related.

In the end, I have decided that the story and its plot were intriguing to me and kept me turning the pages.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

filled to the top with drama then this is a story that you need to check out. I will admit when I first started reading this book I was a little bit confused as to what was going on but after a couple of chapters in I figured out what was going on and from there it was easy to follow along. This is a miraculous story of how sometimes the isn't easy to forget but within time it is possible to move on and achieve forgiveness.

In the 90's we are introduced to Ingrid who is a typical teenage girl. However, a horrifying accident causes her to lose her confidence and the accusations of her attacker cause her to lose a friend. After a while nothing seems to go right and Ingrid decides it is time to move on. Years later she is living as Viveca and it seems despite bring married and having a child she can't seem to let go of her past. However, when strange things are happening around her will she be able to move forward and stop with the sabotage.

Overall this is a very exciting contemporary story you do not want to miss.

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best Boy by Deborah Goodrich Royce is a psychological thriller that is definitely more of a slow burn thriller rather than a thriller with constant twists. From the very beginning, it isn’t overwhelmingly shocking; it has this undercurrent that feels eerie, and you just kinda feel like something or someone is…. off? If that makes sense.

You meet Viveca Stevenson, who on the outside appears to have the perfect, cookie-cutter life… if you just ignore the fact she hasn’t always been known as Viveca. She lives in the perfect neighborhood, she has the perfect husband and perfect son, but when a mysterious letter arrives from a man she has no recollection of, the cracks begin to show. What follows is a slow unraveling of identity and the unsettling idea that forgetting might be more dangerous than remembering.

The strongest part of this book is the built-up psychological tension that Royce begins creating from the very first page. Her exploration of memory— what we choose to forget, what we’re forced to remember and confront, and how unreliable our own minds can be— is done perfectly. The mystery surrounding Viveca’s previous life adds another layer of intrigue that makes you keep turning the page, especially as the story circles back to a single, terrifying night that we get a glimpse of at the very beginning of the book.

That being said, I’m using more of a fast-paced thriller lover, so this was a bit too slow for my tastes. However, this was also a really quick read, so you might now mind the slower pace! The thing that made me rate this 3.5 stars (I rounded down) instead of 5 was you spend a lot of time with this slowly built up tension, which is all leading up to questions finally being answered, but the answers just weren’t satisfying for me. It definitely has a quieter ending than I was anticipating. I do think a lot of people will appreciate this for what it is, though!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for this eARC!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Thanks to Netgalley, Post Hill Press & Deborah Goodrich Royce for this copy of the book!

And it was that juxtaposition of light to dark, onstage to off, player to audience, that she tried to recreate with the shadow boxes she started making when she was nine years old.

Best Boy promised a mystery-thriller that blended the shadows of past with the consequences it brings to the present. Viveca Stephenson has her life set with a rich and successful husband, an adorable son and a beautiful home at Greenwich, Connecticut. But when a letter from her past from a man she doesn't remember comes dropping, she questions if she really escaped the past she left behind.

All in all, I don't think it was really the past that caught up to our lead character. It was just an accumulation of wrong decisions and judgments. The past just felt like a reason to define why Viveca was Viveca.

Thoughts while reading:

1. While reading the prologue, the writing seemed vague. But as I got hooked in the first few pages, I realized it was intentional. [liked]
2. The past, though necessary, seems a little dragged out at times. I get show, don’t tell. But describing the entire place? A bit too much & unnecessary. [disliked]
3. Keeps getting off track from the point at certain times [dislike]
4. The pace was slow but picked up at around 57% mark, got very interesting [like]
5. Around 70% mark the past memory plot kind of became predictable but it held my attention.
6. The ending felt sudden and watered down. After all the build up, loopholes and questioning, I was expecting a more ‘what the helly? is this real?’ ending. [disliked]

Overall a nice 3 stars!

[Lindsay Makowicki Kappel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thrilling read from Deborah Goodrich Royce that kept me on my toes and guessing until the very end! The dual timelines were seamlessly weaved together as the story took shape and reached the jaw dropping conclusion.

[Robert Freese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viveca Stevenson retired from acting at the top of her game to start a family. She survived a horrendous assault at a high school Halloween party, and that night ended up costing her the childhood friend she cherished and haunted her for twenty years.

As she prepares for her son’s 10th Halloween birthday bash, Viveca is contacted by a man who says they worked on a film together and wants to catch up, but she has no recollection of him.

Goodrich Royce masterfully intertwines two separate mysteries and uses each to build the other. It’s told over three timelines, the middle linking the past to the present.

The style is sharp, and precise, and is hard to put down once the setup is established.

I think the best part of any Goodrich Royce thriller is the finale, when all the pieces click together.

If you’re familiar with the author’s acting career, you will enjoy the references to her late 80’s actioner Survival Game and co-stars Seymour Cassel and Mike Norris. (This is her second thriller after Ruby Falls that involves an actress and draws on her acting experiences. I am hoping for more.)

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Royce's previous book Reef Road, so I was looking forward to reading this book. However, it felt like a long build up (over 50% in) to get me curious about what was going on. Viveca's memory as an unreliable due to a previous injury and her horrible migraines left me wondering what to believe. A mysterious letter from from someone in her past career shows up seeming to know her.; she wasn't sure if she knew him but she didn't remember him. I expected the suspense to build from here but I was a bit let down by a predictable ending.
My thanks to Net Galley and Post Hill Press for an advanced copy of this e-arc.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50)]

I loved the authors last book Reef Road, but this one was not for me. I could not get into the characters. However saying this, it might be for others. I will try to read again at another time.

[Erica Orofino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. It flips back and forth from a few different points in the character’s life. I normally don’t like reading stories that way, but this came together nicely. It kept me interested the whole way through. I will definitely pick up another by Royce.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mystery: "One letter. Three 'Best Boys.'
A lifetime of lies. Is your memory a sanctuary or a cage?

BEST BOY by the talented Deborah Goodrich Royce is a twisty psychological thriller (and so much more) about Viveca Stevenson, a woman built from the shards of a discarded life. Having traded her Detroit trauma for Hollywood glamour and a Greenwich pedigree, she exists as a triumph of reinvention—until a single letter arrives. 

In the affluent suburbs of Greenwich, Viveca Stevenson lives a life defined by silence and beauty. Decades ago, she was Ingrid Lind, a girl whose identity was shattered by a brutal assault on a Detroit Halloween night. Through sheer will and surgical precision, she shed her old self to become an actress, but the "dangerous power of forgetting" has left her with a fractured mind.

When a letter from a stranger triggers a flood of suppressed memories, Viveca is forced to navigate three interweaving timelines to discover the truth.

BEST BOY is a Hitchcockian exploration of the fractured self, a twisty and introspective descent into the cost of silence. It asks the chilling question: when you erase your past to survive, what—or who—fills the void?

"A haunting, introspective masterclass in suspense that explores the high cost of a fresh start. Royce proves that while you can rewrite your name and your face, the truth is a ghost that eventually demands an audience, that refuses to stay buried."

My thoughts...

"Identity Thriller with a Social Conscience."
It’s less about the "who-dun-it" and more about the "who-was-I" and the justice that was never served. 

The Vibe:
Think, "Julia Heaberlin's Black-Eyed Susans meets Hollywood Noir. 🎥🖤 A story about the 'dangerous power of forgetting' and the high price of a perfect life.

In BEST BOY, the author crafts a thematically rich autopsy of a "perfect" life. Viveca Stevenson has successfully manicured away the scars of Ingrid Lind, the Detroit teenager broken by a Halloween night assault.

Through three interweaving timelines, Royce peels back the layers of Viveca’s atmospheric world, from the dishy, high-stakes grit of 1980s film sets to the stifling elegance of modern Connecticut.

~Detroit (The 1970s)
~Los Angeles (The 1980s)
~Greenwich (Present Day)

The suspense is found not just in the "best boy" who stalks her through letters, but in Viveca’s own unreliable memory. Using vivid sensory detail, Royce builds a propulsive narrative where the protagonist is her own greatest antagonist. It is a bladed psychological thriller that examines how the weight of suppressed truth can eventually crush even the most meticulously crafted mask.

The Verdict: 5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A sharp, bladed, atmospheric psychological thriller that moves beyond the typical 'amnesia trope.' Royce uses her cinematic background to craft a Surgical Noir that is as much about social accountability as it is about a forgotten crime. By weaving together the grit of 70s Detroit and the high gloss of 80s Hollywood, Royce crafts a Body noir, about the high cost of a fresh start. A must-read for fans of nuanced, slow-burn suspense."

Writing Style
Royce writes with a cinematic elegance that masks a lacerating psychological depth. Her prose is incandescent, capturing the shimmer of a life well-lived, yet it remains bladed, constantly probing the dark corners of her protagonist's fractured psyche. It is a style that doesn't just tell a story; it creates a visceral, atmospheric experience where every sentence feels like a step deeper into a beautiful, dangerous labyrinth."

The author skillfully employs temporal juxtaposition to create a sense of inevitable collision. Her prose is rich with percussive alliteration, giving the narrative a visceral, heartbeat-like rhythm. By utilizing chiaroscuro imagery, she paints a world where the shadows are just as important as the light, turning the act of remembering into a lacerating physical journey.

Takeaway...
The novel suggests that you can change your name, face, and lifestyle, but you can never truly outrun your past; eventually, the truth will demand to be remembered. 

Metaphors

The literary metaphors bridge the gap between the character's internal struggle and the suspenseful plot to give it an edge. Let's dive a little deeper...

1. The Mask (Plastic Surgery & Identity)
Viveca’s surgically altered face is the ultimate metaphor for erasure.

2. The Film Set (Life as a Production)
Given the title and Viveca’s background, the book treats her life like a movie set where she is both the star and the director of her own fiction.

3. The Corn Maze (Memory as a Labyrinth)
One of the most vivid "Hitchcockian" scenes takes place in a corn maze, which serves as a metaphor for Viveca’s fractured memory.

4. The "Best Boy" (The Burden of Guilt)
The term becomes a metaphor for accountability. By applying the label to her son, a film tech and a victim of racial injustice (Sebastian), Royce uses the term to explore who we choose to protect and who we choose to sacrifice.

5. Halloween (The Night of Unbecoming)
The original trauma occurs on Halloween, the one night when everyone wears a mask.

Genre-bending! Do not let the stately house on the cover that signals "wealthy people with secrets" fool you. The book's soul is giving a Body Noir and Hollywood grit vibe. Not just a thriller, a "Moral Mystery." 

The Audiobook...
The audiobook experience truly captivated me. I had the delightful opportunity to immerse myself in the book while also listening to the expertly narrated audiobook by the talented Saskia Maarleveld. Her dynamic voice brought the story and its characters to life, adding depth and nuance that made for an engaging and unforgettable listening experience.

Recs...
If you found yourself captivated by BEST BOY, I highly recommend exploring these compelling reads:

~Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin
~Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
~All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris
~Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom
~If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
~The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Special thanks to Post Hill Press and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 24, 2026
Feb Newsletter

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Best Boy
✍🏻Deborah Goodrich Royce
Blurb:
A gripping psychological thriller, Best Boy teeters on the knife-edge of memory and identity when the arrival of a shocking letter threatens the carefully constructed life of a woman desperate to outrun her past.

Viveca Stevenson has it a handsome and successful husband, an adorable ten-year-old son, and a coastal dream house in Greenwich, Connecticut. She has a solid group of girlfriends and is content with the afterglow of the film career she’s left behind. But when a threatening letter arrives—from a man she does not remember—it cracks open a part of her past she thought was buried for good.

A terrifying chain of events is set in motion, forcing Viveca to confront what happened on a shattering Halloween night in high school when she had a different name, a different face, a different voice. Who is the man contacting her now and was he really the best boy on her most famous film, Misty? Why can’t she remember him—or that night?

A taut psychological thriller, Best Boy explores identity, memory, and the dangerous power of forgetting.
My Thoughts:
Viveca Stevenson has it all: a handsome and successful husband, an adorable ten-year-old son, and a coastal dream house in Greenwich, Connecticut. But when a threatening letter arrives—from a man she does not remember—it cracks open a part of her past she thought was buried for good.

Viveca, on the outside appears to be perfect, but she is deeply flawed and definitely unstable. And as her mysterious past starts to unfold around her…so does her sanity.Royce gets a bit too fond of her own world-building, describing every brick and doorknob like she's conducting a real estate tour. Yes, we get it—the setting is atmospheric. But after the fifth detailed room description, I started wondering if I accidentally picked up an interior design magazine.

The story has ADHD issues, constantly wandering off on tangents when you just want to know what's in that damn letter. Around the 70% mark, the past becomes as predictable as a rom-com meet-cute, which is unfortunate timing for a psychological thriller.. Viveca is a former actress who has a perfect life in Greenwich with a rich husband and a son. When she gets a threatening letter from someone who claims he knew her in her past, she is scared. Does she have secrets? What is happening in her life? This is a psychological thriller,
Thanks NetGalley, Post Hill Press and Author Deborah Goodrich Royce for the complimentary copy off "Best Boy" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#PostHillPress
#DeborahGoodrichRoyce
#BestBoy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Best Boy
Author: Deborah Goodrich Royce
Publisher: Post High Press
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: February 24, 2026
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages 280

Prologue starts in 1998 when Viveca was a teenager. Her name was Ingrid and she was raised in a blue-collar family, she was not popular – in fact since her mother cut her hair it was always done correctly. She got the nickname Woodstock has her blonde hair stuck up on top like Snoopy’s bird in the Peanuts cartoon. Her best friend Emilia ‘Em’ was a year older but they were in the same class. Ingrid was younger so tagged along. One Halloween they went to a party where she should not have gone and ended up in the hospital with serious injuries. It resulted in permanent damage to her vocal corda and her facial injuries required plastic surgery. When finished she looked and sounded completely different. She and her mother moved about and started a new life.

2018 ~ Viveca Stephenson is a former has her life set. She lives happily in Greenwich with husband Henry and son Theo, who she calls her best boy. But when an unpleasant letter from another best boy now a man from her past threatens to shatter the life Viveca has created. She is forced to confront what happened one Halloween night back in high school when she had a different name, a different face, a different voice.
Story goes back and forth between Viveva/Ingrid past and present.

I read a lot of psychological thrillers so have a certainly expectation.
In fact, I read Ruby Fall a couple years ago and loved it. I could not put it down. I give very few stories 5 stars. But it definitely was 4++

I was curious about who the man was and if he was the one who attacked Ingrid.
This was a bit difference than my expectation- not that it was bad –perhaps the timing was wrong as to me it just wasn’t great.

Want to thank NetGalley and Post Hill Press for this uncorrected text copy.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 24, 2026.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best Boy reads like a Lifetime movie that took a creative writing class and decided to get fancy. Viveca Stephenson has it all: the rich husband, the perfect Greenwich mansion, and that whole "I've totally reinvented myself" vibe that screams "this will definitely not come back to bite me."
Then BAM! Mystery letter from a man she claims not to remember. Because apparently, selective amnesia is the new black in psychological thrillers.

Royce gets a bit too fond of her own world-building, describing every brick and doorknob like she's conducting a real estate tour. Yes, we get it—the setting is atmospheric. But after the fifth detailed room description, I started wondering if I accidentally picked up an interior design magazine.

The story has ADHD issues, constantly wandering off on tangents when you just want to know what's in that damn letter. Around the 70% mark, the past becomes as predictable as a rom-com meet-cute, which is unfortunate timing for a psychological thriller.

Then comes the ending—oh boy. After all that meticulous buildup, all those breadcrumbs and red herrings, Royce serves up a conclusion that feels like she had a deadline and just... stopped. I was expecting a "holy crap, reality is melting" moment, but got more of a "well, that happened" shrug.

Pros: Good atmosphere (when not overdone), solid character work, engaging premise
Cons: Gets lost in descriptions, loses focus, predictable back story, anticlimactic ending that squanders the buildup

Bottom Line: It's like a guilty pleasure soap opera in book form—entertaining enough for a weekend read, but don't expect to be quoting profound passages at your book club. Perfect for when you want drama without having to think too hard.

Would I recommend? Sure, if you enjoy domestic suspense and don't mind some eye-rolling moments. Just don't expect it to change your life—unless your life is also built on mysterious lies, in which case, maybe take notes.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deborah Goodrich Royce was in town a couple weekends ago, and I had the lovely opportunity to hear her in conversation with Annabel Monaghan at Oxford Exchange in Tampa. Deborah is so nice— I told her how I related to the way she writes migraines in this book, and she had so many kind words.

I had the privilege of reading this book on NetGalley prior to the event (thanks Post Hill Press!) and it made it so much cooler to learn about Deborah, her background, her process, and this book. Best Boy is a very engaging, dual timeline thriller that has some great reveals and consistently incredible prose.

This book starts with a character (our main character, Ingrid AKA Viveca) in the aftermath of a crisis. I was struck with the accuracy of the depiction of crisis and trauma, and situations like the assault that happens to the protagonist, which mirrors what I’ve seen working as a school counselor and former university crisis counselor.

Viveca leaves Hollywood and starts a new life in Connecticut, but after a letter from the “best boy” of a set she once worked on shows up, her past comes back to haunt her.

Some fascinating things I learned:
1) Deborah and Annabel go on a group writing retreat together each year. They originally met on book tour.
2) Deborah writes Hollywood so well because she lived it! She was an actress on All My Children and worked for Miramax.
3) When writing, Deborah writes both timelines at once in the order they’ll appear in the book
4)To keep track of the events of her novels, Deborah keeps a printed calendar of the year the book is set in front of her.

Anyway, everyone should check out Best Boy which is out now and great for thriller lovers! I plan to read Deborah’s other novels now and am particularly excited about Reef Road which has an interesting inspiration for a family member, and Annabel Monaghan highly recommended! ge

[Cici · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the start, I did enjoy the writing style and found the premise to be intriguing. We learn that the main character, Viveca, has gone through a traumatic experience that altered the course of her life. That single event plays a huge role in her adult life.

The overall feeling I had about this story at the end was that it was just okay. One issue I had while reading was the jumping timelines. The story jumps between the time of the incident, Viveca's recent past, and the present. I think there may have been other random years in there as well, but as a reader it was too much to keep track of. I understand that it was done to add more suspense to what had happened to the character while revealing the truth bit by bit, but oftentimes I had to stop and think about where I was in the character's life. This often took me out of the story.

I did think the main character was intriguing. I understood some of the reasons behind the decisions she made and felt bad for her in regards to the sequence of events that happened. Everything in the plot built up suspense for the reader to figure out what happened, but I felt that the ending was so rushed. I didn't fully buy into the storyline with the main character's husband and was still left with questions in that regard. Based on the synopsis, I thought the letter was going to play a bigger role than it did. Also, the appearance of certain characters at the end felt out of place. I enjoyed the writing, but still have many questions after having finished.

Thank you to Post Hill Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall impression this story left with me is meh. Viveca gave up her acting career to marry a wealthy man who could provide the stability she’s been craving all her life. She receives a letter one day that references a movie she was working on and is supposedly written by a crew member, the ‘best boy.’ She doesn’t remember him, but apparently that’s not unusual, as she has migraine blackouts that leave holes in her memory. As someone who’s had migraines for over 30 years, I wish I could blackout through the pain, but that’s never occurred. But sure, if it works for the story.

Which is told in several different timeframes, by the way, and it doesn’t work. It jumps from 2018 back to 1998, then ahead to 2006, and probably several other years in between that I don’t remember. It just doesn’t work, it’s too much, it’s never in a logical order, and I wish it hadn’t been written that way. She experienced a trauma as a teen that caused her to get out of town, easily settle near Hollywood, and become an actress with no real effort. Not quite believable. And what plastic surgeon does extra work for free just because she was an attractive teenager?? Give me a break. That was before she moved to California, by the way.

There’s not much more to the plot; she tries to figure out who the letter writer is while we go through all of the backstory. And then at the end, it’s a no-brainer who was behind everything because who else would know all of that and have reason to do any of it?

So unfortunately, I was disappointed that this one wasn’t as good as I expected.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reviewing books is a tricky thing. On one hand, you want to be honest, so people don’t believe you enjoyed the book and read it themselves and think you lied to them. On the other hand, someone may read something that doesn’t connect with the reviewer and have a completely different view of the work. The hardest part for me is I admire anyone that sculpts and curates any artform (paintings, drawings, music, acting, writing, directing) and puts their heart and soul into something only to have a keyboard warrior rip their baby to shreds.

That being said, and with all due respect to the author, I didn’t get this at all. I’m pretty much done with the multiple timeline books. Mainly because, as in this case, it doesn’t add to the story, it distracts from it. This novel felt all over the place.

And skipping to the ending (which is what I really wanted to do after the first few chapters), that ending was completely flat. It wasn’t like some authors do where they just wrap it all up in a neat bow because they have in mind a certain page count. Nope. This one kept going after the “mystery” was solved. It just was “meh” there. No emotional release. No joy. No feeling of victory or the good guy came out on top. It just was over with without much fanfare or drama. Maybe the author thought there was drama in that scene. If so, I did find it.

Too many good books out this winter. This, for me, was not one of them.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Liz Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Best Boy begins in 1998 in Royal Oak, Michigan with Ingrid Lind a young high school girl who sneaks out to a Halloween party. She is found the the next morning in the school parking lot with no memory of her assault. Her assault causes a ripple effect and destroys many lives of people she loves. Ingrid leaves town after graduation to start fresh and leave her horrific past behind her.

In 2018 we find that Ingrid a former famous actress has changed her name and hid her past. She is now Viveca Stephenson and lives in Greenwich with her wealthy husband and Theo her son. She has a charmed life and wants for nothing. Her perfect life is threatened when she receives a letter signed Best Boy and could dredge up her past she tried so hard to hide.

Best Boy is a slow burn thriller with some really chilling scenes. This book is for a reader that loves an unreliable narrator and an author who drops small crumbs of the main character's past as the story progresses.

The misdirection throughout the book was excellent. I loved that the book was partially set in an area I am very familiar with. I was slightly disappointed with the ending. Overall, I would recommend Best Boy and will continue to pick up future books by Deborah Goodrich Royce.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Best Boy in return for a honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best Boy is a stylish, slow-burning thriller that slips between memory and mystery with effortless grace. Deborah Goodrich Royce invites us into the world of Viveca—former actress, devoted mother, and reluctant keeper of secrets—whose carefully curated life begins to unravel with the arrival of a letter from someone she doesn’t remember.

What follows is a layered exploration of identity, fame, and the shadows cast by a long-forgotten film set. Royce’s writing is crisp and cinematic, with just the right amount of glamour and grit. The pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to build as Viveca’s past creeps into her present, and the question of what really happened on that Halloween night grows more urgent.

There’s a quiet elegance to the way Royce handles trauma and memory—never sensational, always emotionally grounded. Viveca is a compelling lead: flawed, introspective, and increasingly unsure of what’s real. The final reveal is both satisfying and unsettling, tying together the threads of guilt, fame, and forgotten truths.

Perfect for readers who enjoy psychological suspense with a literary edge and a touch of old Hollywood mystique.

Thank you to Deborah Goodrich Royce, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jody Blanchette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best Boy is about control. It is about the loss of control over memories, body, and surroundings. The story centers around Ingrid, who lost control of consent when she was raped as a teen. From there, because of the trauma, she never gets it back. The police controlled the narrative, which resulted in a disaster. Debilitating migraines took control of her time and memories. Alcohol took control of her limbs and mind. Her husband took control of her safety and comfort. She has never had control.
We see Ingrid’s story through flashbacks and time jumping. How her rape really formed her future, and almost her end. It’s really a sad book, not so much thrilling as a hard look into the mind of a victim. So while I didn’t find the book thrilling, I did enjoy the story. In her later years, as we connect Ingrid to her past for the events that are occurring currently, we find her strength. Her son becomes her center of safety, her place to focus.
I did enjoy this book, but I don’t think it’s in the right genre. I would have loved it to be a longer novel, with the ending not so rushed. Ingird is one of those characters that linger in your brain, and I feel like many we didn’t get enough of her story.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

I am going to be honest, I decided to read this book because I was looking for a good mystery/thriller and I think this book has some elements of that but not enough. The first chapter was promising but while I enjoyed getting to know Vivica as well as Ingrid, some of the scenes in the past felt unnecessary. I think it would have helped to see more of those times where Vivica lost time and make it more believable that she indeed could have cheated on her husband. It would have added more tension and murky the waters so it was not pretty obvious who was behind this. The second part of the book is more engaging and interesting but I wish the conclusion was a little messy/had more action.

This book was not bad, I will say that if you are looking for a mystery/thriller this is not it but if you want to read about a story where the main topic is identity and overcoming past traumas with a smidge of mystery, I think you would like this book.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded to 4 stars for me.

Viveca Stevenson lives with her husband and son in Greenwich,Connecticut.When someone rob her house,and letters are coming from some stranger that she don't remember,the calm and nice life is disturbed which lead to Viveca being forced to face her past.

Who is sending her those letters,and what he really wants from her?


It was a tension filled read.Told from past POV Ingrid,and present POV Viveca we get a heartbreaking and tragic story,that shows us the quilt and shame that never really goes away. Ingrid was just a young girl,dealing with a trauma and when a tragedy strikes also this overhelming guilt.Viveca wants just to rise her son and live a peaceful life,but sadly there's someone who wants her to doubt herself and her family.This tension and suspense filled read was really twisted,you never can be sure who to trust.My first book this author,and hope to read more in the future.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for arc,my review is honest and my own.

[Nicole Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a best boy as a copy through a good reads giveaway and I read this book from March 1 through the eighth. This was definitely an interesting book that I did not get disappointed by. I love this author so much and her writing is amazing. as I read this book I noticed that that it was a slow burn at the first page but it kept me wanting to find out the ending and kept me engaged even when I wanted to put the book down sometimes. I love how she kept making them this book very addictive and wanted me to stay engaged. Personally, I think it was her boat follow different points of view from the characters life, which caused me to be confused for a little bit, knowing who’s talking in the book and he was not. The overall feeling I had about this book was that it was OK I didn’t like the jump in if the time wins as well because it just made it feel difficult to tell when things were happening in the story overall I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to read this advance read a copy and win a Goodreads giveaway.

[Renee(Reneesramblings)]

My first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it.
Viveca lives in Greenwich, Connecticut with her husband, Henry and their son Theo. But a wife and mother is not all she is or was.
Told in 1998 when she was growing up, 2008 when she was pursuing an acting career, and now in 2018. Life seems good, until a letter arrives. A letter that talks about things in her past, that she does not remember.
We discover bits and pieces about her life as we move back and forward in time. The author does an excellent job, teasing out the highs and lows of Viveca’s life. It was not impossible to believe that her migraines were making her an unreliable narrator in her own life. However, for me, there was one person who I never trusted. I am not going to say if I was right or wrong to avoid spoiler territory. I will say that when everything was revealed, I felt so sad for everything Viveca went through.
While I did not love the ending, I did really enjoy the journey. I am excited to get my hands on this author’s backlist.

[Yvette Boer · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I found Best Boy a really smooth and engaging read. The story of Viveca, whose comfortable life is disrupted by a mysterious letter, pulled me in right away. The mix of past and present and the slow reveal of her hidden memories creates a nice sense of tension.

The writing is elegant and the psychological aspect is definitely the strongest part of the book. I liked following Viveca’s inner struggle and watching her past surface piece by piece.

Still, once I reached the ending, I was hoping for something with a bit more impact. After such a promising build up, the conclusion felt a little too gentle. I missed an exciting twist or a moment that truly surprised me.

Overall, Best Boy is an enjoyable and well written psychological thriller that reads quickly, but the ending left me wishing for a little more spark.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller writer Deborah Goodrich Royce has done it again with her enthralling mystery, Best Boy. The book centers around an ex-actress named Viveca, who left the West Coast to find a new life with her family. Something that is done 1000 times a day with no ramifications. However, when the family moves into their new house, Vivica receives a note signed by someone named 'best boy'. Importantly, after that, their home is burglarized, and her secrets, which are only known to her, become public. What's great about Best Boy is that it imbues the reader with a sense of paranoia and even anxiety that may be hard to shake until the end. The author employs dual timelines, which makes the book that much more fascinating and gut-wrenching. I recommend best boy, especially when you have the lights turned on and the doors locked.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viveca Stephenson seems to have it all - a handsome husband, an adorable 10 year old son Theo, a former actress life in Hollywood, and a cushy life in Greenwich, CT. But things aren’t as they seem - anywhere in this story. Viveca has reinvented herself from what she was as a girl growing up in Detroit. Thinking she’s let all the secrets and heartache behind, she struggles to forget her past of being assaulted, and her role in the aftermath.

But secrets don’t stay buried, as she comes to find out. Someone is stalking her and seems to know about her past, but who - and why? A great page-turner story with lots of twists - this was a quick read and I enjoyed it. Pub date 2/24/26, so time to add to your TBR! Thanks to the author for sharing with our book club!