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What Happened Next
Not yet published
Expected 1 Apr 26A young man investigating his father’s crimes is determined to uncover the truth in a gripping novel of suspense about family secrets, betrayal, and the weight of the past.
What do I remember about the murder on the lake?
Charlie Kilgore was too young to remember anything, really, about how events on the lake unfolded twenty-five years ago. He just knows what he’s been told: that his father stabbed a man to death, left Charlie’s mother critically wounded, and then disappeared, never to be seen again. Now Charlie believes there must be more to what happened.
Using the shards of the story he’s uncovered so far as the heart of a true crime podcast, Charlie returns to his hometown in the foothills of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Old friends, family, authorities, and even collateral victims have moved on, and no one wants to dredge up what’s long forgotten. Except Charlie. He wants to know what could have transformed a quiet man into a monster. And what happened next.
But when Charlie starts asking questions of people with so much to hide, getting to the truth becomes dangerous. Because on this lake—in this family—the past isn’t dead and buried at all. In fact, it’s back with a vengeance.
What do I remember about the murder on the lake?
Charlie Kilgore was too young to remember anything, really, about how events on the lake unfolded twenty-five years ago. He just knows what he’s been told: that his father stabbed a man to death, left Charlie’s mother critically wounded, and then disappeared, never to be seen again. Now Charlie believes there must be more to what happened.
Using the shards of the story he’s uncovered so far as the heart of a true crime podcast, Charlie returns to his hometown in the foothills of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Old friends, family, authorities, and even collateral victims have moved on, and no one wants to dredge up what’s long forgotten. Except Charlie. He wants to know what could have transformed a quiet man into a monster. And what happened next.
But when Charlie starts asking questions of people with so much to hide, getting to the truth becomes dangerous. Because on this lake—in this family—the past isn’t dead and buried at all. In fact, it’s back with a vengeance.
317 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 1, 2026
3 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Edwin Hill
8 books734 followersEdwin Hill is the Edgar and Agatha Award–nominated author of the standalone thrillers What Happened Next, Who to Believe, and The Secrets We Share, and three mysteries featuring Harvard-librarian Hester Thursby Little Comfort, The Missing Ones, and Watch Her. He has been featured in Us Weekly magazine, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and Library Journal, and was recognized as one of Six Crime Writers to Watch in Mystery Scene magazine. Edwin lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts, with his partner, Michael, and his favorite reviewer, their Lab Edith Ann, who likes Edwin’s first drafts enough to eat them.
Visit edwin-hill.com for more information.
Visit edwin-hill.com for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 17, 2025
Charlie was an infant who witnessed a terrible crime decades ago. His father killed a man, attacked his mom, and then disappeared. This is one of those stories where you just know the past crime didn’t happen like it’s always been believed. The question is what really went down and how easy it will be for Charlie to get the answers? He’s twenty-five now and returns home to ask questions (you know how that will go) and possibly create a podcast about the entire scenario. What could possibly go wrong?
You may have read stories like this before, but something about this one was different for me. Maybe it’s just the author’s writing, but I was immediately drawn in. The fact that Charlie is close friends with the daughter of the victim, even all these years later, was an interesting take. And there are many characters he comes across who were here at the time and could make either good suspects or good allies, but determining which isn’t so easy. I liked that he kept pushing and didn’t just blindly trust people close to him, like it often happens in stories like this.
I really enjoyed this book and will be checking out more by this author. I like his style and the way he provides a good, solid mystery to sink into.
You may have read stories like this before, but something about this one was different for me. Maybe it’s just the author’s writing, but I was immediately drawn in. The fact that Charlie is close friends with the daughter of the victim, even all these years later, was an interesting take. And there are many characters he comes across who were here at the time and could make either good suspects or good allies, but determining which isn’t so easy. I liked that he kept pushing and didn’t just blindly trust people close to him, like it often happens in stories like this.
I really enjoyed this book and will be checking out more by this author. I like his style and the way he provides a good, solid mystery to sink into.
October 28, 2025
I am a big Edwin Hill fan--I've liked everything I've read by him, and he will continue to be a must-read author for me. This novel, a stand-alone, has loads of elements that pulled me in: set in a lakefront community (and, indeed, a lake house is central to the plot); a murder from the narrator's history that he is back home to explore; the narrator's motivation, aside from it being his personal history--his father killed his mother's lover and almost killed her while he and his older brother escaped on their boat onto the lake--of potentially unraveling this mystery to create a podcast (I have no idea why I love books about podcasters!); and even a missing, murderous father whom the narrator seems to glimpse from time to time. It's really loaded.
Overall, I thought this was a solidly paced novel with really good plotting. The last 20% buzzed along as I tried to figure out who, in this motley cast of characters, might be guilty and who might be innocent. Also, I really like that Hill doesn't always pull his punches: characters aren't safe just because they seem central to the story lines so you really can't predict what will happen next (yeah, I see what I did there--it really wasn't intentional 😊).
Compared to other books I've read by Hill, this one seemed to be a bit slower with more telling than showing. I might be being a little unfair here; it's because I have so loved Hill's other works that I might be--in comparison--calling this one slower. He has just set the bar really high in general for me. Regardless, this is still a solid novel well worth reading. I look forward to whatever he puts out next.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Overall, I thought this was a solidly paced novel with really good plotting. The last 20% buzzed along as I tried to figure out who, in this motley cast of characters, might be guilty and who might be innocent. Also, I really like that Hill doesn't always pull his punches: characters aren't safe just because they seem central to the story lines so you really can't predict what will happen next (yeah, I see what I did there--it really wasn't intentional 😊).
Compared to other books I've read by Hill, this one seemed to be a bit slower with more telling than showing. I might be being a little unfair here; it's because I have so loved Hill's other works that I might be--in comparison--calling this one slower. He has just set the bar really high in general for me. Regardless, this is still a solid novel well worth reading. I look forward to whatever he puts out next.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
November 17, 2025
3.75 stars
I've read a few books by this author, and I've consistently enjoyed them. The pacing and twists make this a consistently engaging (and wild) read. You, too, will be slapping a question mark on the end of that title and maybe even an exclamation point after that.
Charlie has a memorable childhood event when his dad murders his mom's lover and then leaves his mom for dead. Fortunately, she survives, as do her two small children (Charlie and his older brother). To the surprise of no one, the brothers have some resulting issues from this bizarre origin story. Charlie decides to deal with these issues in the most Gen Z way possible: a podcast. Yes. He's turning his family tragedy into a podcast. Guess how excited his friends, family, and small town contacts are about this!
Of course, this podcast initiates some challenging conversations and unexpected reveals. There are twists and turns, but most importantly, there's a great dog in the mix. Also, frequent references to the iconic _Harold and Maude_, which made me laugh every time. This book should absolutely come with a Cat Stevens heavy playlist.
There's a storyline that includes a character who is convinced that their experience as an actor on a crime solving show somehow gives them the chops to solve real crime, and most elements of that were a little out there for me, but that's easily forgiven by the many other parts of this that I enjoyed.
Overall, this is an engaging read, and I look forward to reading more from Hill.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I've read a few books by this author, and I've consistently enjoyed them. The pacing and twists make this a consistently engaging (and wild) read. You, too, will be slapping a question mark on the end of that title and maybe even an exclamation point after that.
Charlie has a memorable childhood event when his dad murders his mom's lover and then leaves his mom for dead. Fortunately, she survives, as do her two small children (Charlie and his older brother). To the surprise of no one, the brothers have some resulting issues from this bizarre origin story. Charlie decides to deal with these issues in the most Gen Z way possible: a podcast. Yes. He's turning his family tragedy into a podcast. Guess how excited his friends, family, and small town contacts are about this!
Of course, this podcast initiates some challenging conversations and unexpected reveals. There are twists and turns, but most importantly, there's a great dog in the mix. Also, frequent references to the iconic _Harold and Maude_, which made me laugh every time. This book should absolutely come with a Cat Stevens heavy playlist.
There's a storyline that includes a character who is convinced that their experience as an actor on a crime solving show somehow gives them the chops to solve real crime, and most elements of that were a little out there for me, but that's easily forgiven by the many other parts of this that I enjoyed.
Overall, this is an engaging read, and I look forward to reading more from Hill.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
Charlie is nearly 14 years younger than his brother Reid when the first death occurs near their New Hampshire home.
Everyone seemed to have a grudge against the other people. Each person also seemed to have a few odd traits that made them float in and out like a lifeboat in a winter storm.
Because of the continuous intrigue conflict and character switching, I floundered at times to keep the storyline straight. The last ten chapters helped to pull it all together but I would have enjoyed a more contiguous construction. 4 stars – CE Williams
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own. 3.5 stars
Charlie is nearly 14 years younger than his brother Reid when the first death occurs near their New Hampshire home.
Everyone seemed to have a grudge against the other people. Each person also seemed to have a few odd traits that made them float in and out like a lifeboat in a winter storm.
Because of the continuous intrigue conflict and character switching, I floundered at times to keep the storyline straight. The last ten chapters helped to pull it all together but I would have enjoyed a more contiguous construction. 4 stars – CE Williams
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own. 3.5 stars
November 19, 2025
What happened next is a story about a small-town murder, Charlie's father murdered his mother's lover or so he think, he was too young to actually know what happened so now he decided to get to the bottom of this story by investigating it. On this journey, the truth will be revealed, friends will turn into enemies and secrets will be known.
I liked this book, it wasn't the best in terms of pacing, the first few chapters are a little bit boring but when it picks up, i couldn't put it down.
I really liked the characters and the setting for the mystery. The mystery was well done, I actually didn't predict who made what happened. So for me,it's a 4 stars book.
I want to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sending me this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book, it wasn't the best in terms of pacing, the first few chapters are a little bit boring but when it picks up, i couldn't put it down.
I really liked the characters and the setting for the mystery. The mystery was well done, I actually didn't predict who made what happened. So for me,it's a 4 stars book.
I want to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sending me this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2025
This book drew me in right from the beginning and I couldn't put it down!
The main character in this story is Charlie. His childhood started with a major event; his father murdering his mother's lover and leaving his mother for dead-or so he thought. Returning to his hometown with the hopes of creating a podcast about this event causes Charlie to question everything. Interviews with friends and family unravel a web of secrets that many around Charlie have kept for 25 years.
This was a great thriller and it kept me guessing from beginning to end. I will certainly be looking for more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas&Mercer, and Edwin Hill for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The main character in this story is Charlie. His childhood started with a major event; his father murdering his mother's lover and leaving his mother for dead-or so he thought. Returning to his hometown with the hopes of creating a podcast about this event causes Charlie to question everything. Interviews with friends and family unravel a web of secrets that many around Charlie have kept for 25 years.
This was a great thriller and it kept me guessing from beginning to end. I will certainly be looking for more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas&Mercer, and Edwin Hill for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 24, 2025
4.5 stars
A child from a family with a traumatic past, naive Charlie tries to boost his journalistic career by starting a podcast to uncover the truth about the fateful day. And annoys his entire family, and the town, with the prospect.
As people start dying again, what has Charlie resurfaced? And what will they do to keep the past hidden?
Main characters as podcasters has turned into a complete cliche but in What Happened Next, the story of Charlie and his cagey family was so compelling, I forgot all my misgivings.
About greed, ambition and love (both toxic and sacrificial), WHN is an engrossing thrilling read.
A child from a family with a traumatic past, naive Charlie tries to boost his journalistic career by starting a podcast to uncover the truth about the fateful day. And annoys his entire family, and the town, with the prospect.
As people start dying again, what has Charlie resurfaced? And what will they do to keep the past hidden?
Main characters as podcasters has turned into a complete cliche but in What Happened Next, the story of Charlie and his cagey family was so compelling, I forgot all my misgivings.
About greed, ambition and love (both toxic and sacrificial), WHN is an engrossing thrilling read.
December 1, 2025
First, let me say I just love Edwin Hill's books. I find that they go super fast and always keep me wanting to read just one more chapter at night. I am always excited when he says he is coming out with a new book and when I heard about THIS one, I thought the premise was so interesting! I don't like to write too much of a synopsis, because you can get that in a lot of different places, but in a nutshell, Charlie and his family went through a tragic event when he was just an infant, and now later in his adult life, he wants to make a podcast about the past and what happened. Unfortunately, Charlie's mother and others aren't thrilled with Charlie bringing up the past and someone doesn't want it exposed at all. With the help of his friend, Seton and a newly developed relationship, Charlie races toward the truth at a breakneck pace, but maybe, just maybe, he will face a story that he was never told.
I thought this was a great premise and really enjoyed finding out "what happened next." I was surprised who the main person was involved in the past event, and that's always a good thing. I am usually underwhelmed or figure it out too fast. Not the case in this one. I really enjoyed it. There were some characters in there that I didn't care for, but that's just me. Overall, it is a good mystery set in tranquil, peaceful location. I appreciate the copy from NetGalley, No review is required. Grab your copy early 2026.
I thought this was a great premise and really enjoyed finding out "what happened next." I was surprised who the main person was involved in the past event, and that's always a good thing. I am usually underwhelmed or figure it out too fast. Not the case in this one. I really enjoyed it. There were some characters in there that I didn't care for, but that's just me. Overall, it is a good mystery set in tranquil, peaceful location. I appreciate the copy from NetGalley, No review is required. Grab your copy early 2026.
October 6, 2025
Fantastic thriller, had my interest within the first few chapters, fast paced, full of Suspense, deception and twusts i didn't see coming at all. Throughly enjoyed this and will recommend this book to other thrill seekers
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews