The Date

by T.H. Murdock

What would you do if your first date ended in murder?

A year ago, after a perfect date, Miles Deverill was charged with murder. The handsome young actor became front-page news when he was accused of killing Caira Kennedy, a social worker he had just met that night.

Now acquitted, Miles can’t escape the past. He tries to rebuild his life, but journalists won’t leave him alone. And then the threatening messages start—in Caira's own voice: This is not over. Is she still alive or is someone playing a twisted game?

Desperate to escape, Miles joins friends on a remote road trip. But deep in an isolated forest, one of their group is murdered. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on his date—and this time he has to face the truth. Guilty or innocent, there is nowhere left to run…

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Amazon, Ebooks

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2026

About the author

T. H. Murdock is a former journalist turned author of psychological thrillers. His debut novel, The Date, is published in July 2026.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Not Over...

THE DATE
by T.H. Murdock

2 1/2 stars. It took me 2 weeks to get 55% of this book read, then I decided to just stop. I'll rate the half that I did read 2 1/2 stars...

While the first chapter was a pretty good hook, the slow-moving rest was unbearable...

Miles Deverill and Ciara Kennedy met on a dating app. The date went well, but afterward, life didn't go so well...

That night, after the date...

Ciara was murdered, and Miles stood trial for the crime...

Much later...

Miles was found innocent by a jury. To celebrate, he and his friends Elis, George, Rubyn, and his sister Polly took a trip to New Zealand...

But...

On his first day back into civilization, someone posing as Ciara sent Miles a text message...

Now seemed like a good time to take that trip, and the sooner, the better...

Looks like Miles' trial is not over...

Looking back on my assessment of what I had read thus far, this seemed like it might be a good murder mystery. Trouble was, it took 50 plus percent of the book for the group to arrive in New Zealand and board their luxury motor home. My problem with this book is that I don't like reading a lot of fluff and filler to get to the meat of the plot. I honestly couldn't stay awake on this one.

This might have been a good mystery, but I didn't have the patience to get to the end.

[CrinM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lackluster. Started out ok and then just creeped through the rest to find out who did it with chapters from all of the people. A lot of pointless exposition of their lives that had zero impact on the story being carried along. “Big reveal” was a bit flat because we spent so much time getting through all these chapters of nothing that I just didn’t really care. Nothing thrilling or suspenseful about it.

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you T.H. Murdock and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.

First of all, I loved the setting for the story. It's not often I get to read a story from the wilderness of North Western New Zealand.

The story plays out as a whodoneit, everyone is suspicious at some point or another but man, the way they treat each other as "friends" is quite awful, which made them all kind of annoying and unlikeable.

There were a lot of parts I just felt were really unrealistic decisions made my the groupm I understand the narrative use of red herrings and what not but it just wasn't that believable.

I will say though that I did not guess the ending. I feel like I should have but I didn't. The very ending of the story was the best part and got a reaction out of me but I just wish more of the novel had that same feeling.

Okay read.

[Melissa Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love!! Totally recommend this thriller. Hidden gem 💎.
We added his future books to TBR 🙌
It’s a whodunnit trope and writing is exceptional.
Currently free with Amazon prime first reads

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for this opportunity.

The Date is a well-written, expertly paced thriller from the start. Fans of multiple POV will love this one, as the author effortlessly weaves a varied cast of players together from chapter to chapter.

The book begins with a murder trial, the main character accused of murdering a woman he went on a single date with. After being acquitted, he embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand with his sister and a handful of friends, where tension begins to build between everyone for various reasons before the plane even leaves the ground.

This was a page-turner for me. I really enjoyed the way the author breadcrumbed details throughout, and it came to a satisfying conclusion. The twists weren’t obvious, but not so outlandish that they couldn’t be at least partially guessed. (It’s a pet peeve of mine when the reader doesn’t have enough information to be clued into the structure of a twist in any way.) I would definitely read another novel by this author!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun suspense story! This one really kept me on my mental toes. Every character became a suspect at one point or another, which is a hallmark of a good mystery. Lots of witty dialogue and unpredictable twists too. I can’t say that I was rooting for any particular character, as none were very endearing, but overall the book was a treat!

[Rich Buickerood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of Empty Words

This is one of those novels wherein every chapter is dedicated to a different character or event. With so many different characters this got old fast. The plot was very slow paced and I wound up skipping entire chapters just trying to get to the point where something actually happened.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caira is 40 and on the dating apps when she meets Miles. They go out, have a nice time, and she invites him in while her orders an Uber. Eleven months later he's charged with her murder! He gets out and later gets a video clip of her saying, "You might think this is over, but this is NOT over!" Now the police are looking for him again. It's a crazy, mixed-up story of jealousy, love, and greed. Loved it!

[Sarah Empson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cracking debut and what an opener! I loved all the characters in this one and the alternating chapters kept it really interesting. This was the perfect read for this time of year and it’s a nice pacy read too. I really enjoyed this as I was second guessing everyone right up until the point of the big reveal. I felt invested in the story and the characters right from the start and enjoyed going along the journey with them all. I can’t wait to see what Tom writes next!

[✨ Brianna Raquel ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was so much written that wasn’t integral to the story

[Shona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year ago, after a perfect date, Miles Deverill was charged with murder. The handsome young actor became front-page news when he was accused of killing Caira Kennedy, a social worker he had just met that night. Now acquitted, Miles can’t escape the past. He tries to rebuild his life, but journalists won’t leave him alone. And then the threatening messages start—in Caira's own voice: this is not over. Is she still alive or is someone playing a twisted game? Desperate to escape, Miles joins friends on a remote road trip. But deep in an isolated forest, one of their group is murdered. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on his date and this time he has to face the truth. Guilty or innocent, there is nowhere left to run…

I loved the sound of this from the moment I saw it online and I was extremely lucky to be sent a review copy by Tom ahead of release.

The pacing is steady throughout and the book progresses in a direction I definitely wasn’t expecting, the second half of the book ramping up the suspense and suspicions amongst the cast of characters.

Whilst I did figure out a few of the twists I wasn’t totally expecting that final reveal and that twist definitely made me gasp out loud. Whilst the plot in the second half led to some obvious expectations of something bad being about to happen, I was utterly gripped throughout, eager to find out more and if my suspicions were correct.

I have seen a few reviews mention about the title of the book not quite suiting the story and I have to admit I agree, the ‘date’ element was a fairly small part of the book overall, however this is just an opinion and in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the title whatsoever! Definitely keen to read more from Tom and have added his next book, The Best Man, to my wish list already!

[Helen Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a great time reading The Date!

One of my favourite things about this book was the multiple points of view, especially the chapters from Alex. Seeing the story unfold through so many different eyes kept me completely invested, and I loved trying to work out who was telling the truth and who wasn’t.

Once the characters became isolated, the tension really ramped up. Stranded with no signal, no power and no way of getting help, the whole story took on an almost horror-like feel, and I absolutely loved that. The atmosphere became so tense that I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next.

I also really enjoyed the constant “did he, didn’t he?” question running throughout the book. Every time I thought I’d worked it out, something else happened that made me doubt myself all over again. There were twists I spotted, plenty that I didn’t, and I loved being kept on my toes right until the end.

For a debut novel, this is a fantastic thriller. It’s tense, entertaining and full of suspense, with plenty to keep you guessing from beginning to end.

A huge congratulations on your debut, T. H. Murdock! 🥳 And thank you so much for reaching out and asking if I’d like to read and review The Date, and for so kindly sending me a signed copy of your debut novel. It was a real pleasure to read, and I’m so glad I got to discover your writing.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfyingly twisty mystery

Miles is falsely accused, tried, and acquitted of the murder of Ciara, an internet date he’d just met. He and his closest friends are treated to a getaway holiday in New Zealand after the trial, by Miles’ parents. One of the friends is a podcaster, hoping to grow his audience by making a video of a rare type of parrot, and the group takes off in a deluxe camper bus for a secluded forest where the birds live. Meanwhile, even away from the press scrutiny in the UK, Miles is being stalked and threatened by an anonymous vigilante who is convinced that he got away with murder. Many surprises are revealed during the sojourn in the remote forest, but the identity of the killer is the book’s last surprise. Unputdownable.

[Ari (ariannasreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could NOT put this one down! Finished it in less than 24 hours. It kept me guessing right up until the end. Unexpected twists and turns, interesting characters, a great read. I’ll have to check out more of Murdock’s work.

[Luis Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty darn good beach/summer/airplane read. Fast paced, twists you don’t see coming and some interesting characters and locations. Not exactly first rate literature, but not bad at all. Quick, fun read.

[Andrew Potter-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book and I was sooo hooked!! I predicted one part of it and not the over, lowkey loved the ending paragraph!!

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one

[Kristi Jett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but it just seemed slow for the first half of the book. The first chapter was fantastic, but then it slowed tremendously for the first half. The second half was much more fast paced. I also did think all the characters were pretty unlikable. Yet, I did find it an entertaining.

Spoiler:
I also hated how the killers got away with murder. I like to have books end with the murderers getting justice.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Date starts with a nightmare so aggressively modern it feels like the universe personally subtweeting the dating apps. Miles Deverill, pretty young actor and apparently Britain’s favorite tabloid chew toy, goes on one perfect first date with Caira Kennedy. Cute, right? Drinks, chemistry, maybe a second date. Except no, because by the next morning Caira is dead and Miles is being charged with her murder, which is a fairly dramatic way for a first date to end. Suddenly the man is not “romantic lead energy,” he is “grainy photo under a headline” energy.

A year later, Miles has been acquitted, but acquitted is not the same as free, and The Date knows that in its bones. The court says one thing, the public says another, and the internet is out here acting like it got a law degree from the comment section of a Daily Mail article. Miles is trying to rebuild his life, but everyone keeps staring at him like they’re waiting for him to accidentally confess over a latte. Then the messages start coming in Caira’s voice saying this is not over, and at that point I would personally become a cave woman. No phone, no Wi-Fi, just vibes and moss.

Miles, unfortunately, chooses a group trip to New Zealand with his sister and friends, because nothing says “healthy coping mechanism” like international travel with people whose emotional range appears to be guilt, secrets, and expensive outerwear. This is where the book starts layering on that good, clammy paranoia. Is Miles innocent? Is someone punishing him? Is Caira somehow alive? Is this friend group actually a support system, or just a collection of men who say “mate” while actively ruining your life? The answer to that last one feels spiritually obvious.

The first half takes its time, maybe a little too much time, getting everyone onto the board. There’s court fallout, media pressure, creepy messages, friend tension, sister tension, general “this man has not slept properly since the incident” tension. I liked the psychological mess of it, but there were moments where I wanted the book to stop circling the emotional drain and get to the murder woods already. The setup is juicy, but sometimes it lingers like a guy at the bar who has explained crypto to you twice and is somehow still holding eye contact.

But once the trip turns remote and the forest starts doing forest things, The Date finds its nasty little rhythm. Now we’ve got bad weather, a trapped group, a camper situation, secrets sweating out of everyone’s pores, and another body, because apparently one murder was just the appetizer. This is exactly the kind of thriller setup that makes you suspicious of anyone who says, “We should stay calm,” because that person either knows something or has never watched Scream, and both are red flags.

Miles is the best part of the whole unraveling because he is not packaged as some innocent little cinnamon roll wronged by society. He’s traumatized, yes. He’s also privileged, evasive, scared, and just off enough that you keep shifting in your seat. You feel bad for him, then you side-eye him, then you feel bad for side-eyeing him, then he says or does something and you’re back in the bushes with binoculars. That’s a fun thriller lead. Give me a man whose innocence comes with a terms and conditions page.

The friend group is messy in that very specific way where everyone has secrets, but nobody has the self-awareness to be interesting about them right away. Early on, some of the boys blur together into one smooth prep-school soup of bad choices and suspicious vibes. But once the pressure hits, their personalities start cracking open, and that’s when the book gets much better. The loyalty stuff works. The shame stuff works. The way everyone is performing innocence while privately panic-Googling their own moral compass? Delicious.

What gives The Date a little more bite than just “hot man accused of murder, then everyone goes camping like fools” is the way it plays with public guilt versus private truth. Caira is dead, Miles is acquitted, but nobody gets cleanly released from the story. The book keeps poking at how fast people become headlines, suspects, symbols, villains, victims, and content. It is bleak, but not in a homework way. More like, “Wow, society is a haunted toilet and we all brought phones.”

Did I want the middle tighter? Absolutely. There are stretches where the tension is present, but it’s wearing slippers. I also wanted a little more sharpness from a few characters earlier, because the payoff is strongest when everyone feels distinct enough to be individually judged, which is my God-given right as a thriller reader. But the premise is strong, the back half moves, the reveals are satisfying enough, and the whole thing has that fun “trust no one, especially not the hot one” energy that keeps pages turning.

The Date is a solid 3.5-star thriller for me, the kind of book you read while muttering “oh, come on” and then immediately turning the page because apparently you are the problem too. It’s dramatic, suspicious, a little uneven, and deeply committed to making first dates seem like a public health risk. I respect that.

Whodunity Award: For Turning One Bad Date Into an International Group Trip From Hell With Bonus Murder Sprinkles

Huge, chaotic thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the ARC, because apparently my love language is being handed a thriller where dating, friendship, travel, and basic survival all need separate legal waivers.

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, T.H. Murdock, and Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer for a copy of The Date in exchange for an honest review.

This review is painful to write because I genuinely thought I was about to be swept into a twisty, addictive thriller. The first chapter grabbed me immediately. It had tension, intrigue, and just enough mystery to make me excited for what was coming next. Unfortunately, for me, that first chapter ended up being the highlight of the entire book.

The initial date was compelling and had me fully invested. After that? It felt like the story packed its bags, changed planes three times, and forgot where it was supposed to be going. I kept reading because I was convinced there had to be some brilliant payoff waiting around the corner. Instead, each chapter seemed to introduce another bizarre turn that pulled me further away from the story rather than deeper into it.

The characters were difficult to connect with because so many of their choices felt baffling. Nobody reacted the way I expected actual people to react. Trust was handed out like free samples at a grocery store, and decisions were made that had me repeatedly asking, "Why would anyone do that?" Instead of creating suspense, it created frustration.

The plot itself felt scattered. We start with the promise of a murder trial, then suddenly we're bouncing to New Zealand, wandering through forests with friends who don't seem particularly trustworthy, meeting random new people, and accepting situations that require a suspension of disbelief I simply couldn't manage. Every time I thought the story was settling into a direction, it veered off onto another road entirely.

And the twists? I love a good twist. I actively seek out books that leave me staring at the wall questioning everything I just read. But these twists felt less like carefully planted surprises and more like someone throwing darts at a board full of plot ideas. By the end, I wasn't shocked. I was exhausted.

What really surprised me is that so many readers seem to have had an incredible experience with this book. I kept waiting for the moment where everything clicked into place and I finally understood the hype. Sadly, that moment never arrived for me. Instead, I found myself feeling increasingly disconnected from both the story and the characters.

There are definitely readers who will enjoy the wild ride this book offers, but I wasn't one of them. I wanted a gripping psychological thriller and instead got a story that felt chaotic, implausible, and ultimately unsatisfying.

Final Verdict: The first chapter promised me a five-star thriller. The rest of the book delivered a confusing road trip through plot twists, questionable decisions, and enough detours to make my head spin. Unfortunately, The Date and I just weren't a match. 💔📚

[Beth Reads Crime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the debut thriller from former journalist Murdock.Miles and Ciara have the perfect first date. If you overlook the fact that by morning Ciara is found dead and Miles is on trial for her murder…

Miles and Ciara have the perfect first date. If you overlook the fact that by morning Ciara is found dead and Miles is on trial for her murder…A year later Miles is acquitted and trying to rebuild his life. During his time in prison, he clung to the idea of travelling when he got out. And this is what he chooses to do with his sister and close group of friends. It’s not long before they trot off to New Zealand in order to escape the media circus that clouds Miles’ release.

A year later Miles is acquitted and trying to rebuild his life. During his time in prison, he clung to the idea of travelling when he got out. And this is what he chooses to do with his sister and close group of friends. It’s not long before they trot off to New Zealand in order to escape the media circus that clouds Miles’ release.Since he got out Miles has been receiving strange, threatening emails. Someone is convinced the courts are wrong, that he was responsible that night and needs to pay…

Since he got out Miles has been receiving strange, threatening emails. Someone is convinced the courts are wrong, that he was responsible that night and needs to pay… I have been quite slow with my reading lately but I absolutely wolfed this down in just a couple of sittings. The story is engaging and I found that the small cast of characters and later enclosed motorhome setting helped maintain a quick pace. There are a few different mysteries at hand to unpick, with different motives, but they are well seeded so the reader is able to guess along. I think I had about a 70% success rate! A great debut!

I have been quite slow with my reading lately but I absolutely wolfed this down in just a couple of sittings. The story is engaging and I found that the small cast of characters and later enclosed motorhome setting helped maintain a quick pace. There are a few different mysteries at hand to unpick, with different motives, but they are well seeded so the reader is able to guess along. I think I had about a 70% success rate! A great debut!

Thank you to the author for an ARC.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Kindle First offering of the month and we got 2 this month. This was my first choice. Now, I liked it but in places I found it very slow and it wasn't a book I picked up again in any rush from day to day.....I'd try another by him for sure, though, as he had hardly any errors in it !! (Though the couple I spotted ought to have been picked up).....
The men in the story were all pretty awful, entitled posh boys you just don't warm to in any fashion, I found, and the girls were not really much better. That could be why I was dragging my heels reading it....I couldn't get invested much cos' I didn't care too much what happened to any of them !!
It was a twisty-turny read in that you thought it could be him, then him......and I still guessed wrong myself, which was good as it kept the story itself interesting. It did sound in the premise like a couple of true murder cases I'd read about but the actual tale itself unwound into something different than those. Though one character I thought had shades of Elliot Rodger.
Something that bothered me the whole way through was Elis's name...it just stood out as a misspelling to me of Ellis the whole way through. Perhaps people also spell it that way but I just found it immensely distracting. Another distraction is seeing KC written these days as opposed to QC, which it had been all my life.....still not used to seeing that.
He used the word hyenic which I thought was terrific !! I'd also never heard of The Minister's Cat.....strange name and I couldn't find online why it was called this in the first place.
Now the mistakes I spotted-Zopiclone should be capitalised, he persistently writes inquiry the American way not enquiry, then discomforting not discomfiting and right in the thick of action near the end he wrote her and not him !!! Someone really should have spotted that one....
I loved learning about the kakapo bird. I'd never heard of it and googled it and I do like its serious visage. I was especially impressed that he added a link to assist in its welfare at the end. I did also look up LMAG writers' group but Google didn't even know what this is !
All in all it's a pretty good story but just dragged a little here and there for me but I'll try another by him.

[Emily Portman · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES, this was just fantastic!! 😍 One of my most anticipated reads of the year and it certainly lived up to my expectations. This book is the perfect example of my favourite kind of thriller – the kind where you don’t see the twists coming, the kind where you are always questioning character motives, the kind where you’re whisked off to a beautiful setting for a while (and the description, holy sh*it it’s good.) You NEED this book on your radar this summer!

The Date is a twisty, tightly-plotted triumph of a debut that I could not put down, and I guarantee you won’t be able to either. It is literally my favourite kind of book and is one of the best I’ve read this year! Everything from the multiple POVs of a friendship group with plenty to hide, to the author’s gorgeous exploration of New Zealand kept me reading, and from that intense prologue to that shocking epilogue (I mean 🤯) I was hooked. A year ago, Miles was charged with the murder of his date, and has just been acquitted. In a bid to get his freedom back and rebuild his life, he, his friends and his sister plan a trip to New Zealand. But things don’t go to plan. He’s being stalked, threatened, and this trip of a lifetime quickly turns into a nightmare situation.

I loved every single character for different reasons and even so, I think I suspected every one of them at one point or another! Tom is brilliant at throwing you off the scent, making you think one thing, then proving you wrong. Oh, and that second theory you have going on? He’ll tread all over that too 😅 It’s a book full of secrets and mystery, the twists shocking and so satisfying, especially at the end! I found it so atmospheric, and the pacing and short chapters in this book are everything you want in a psychological thriller. It’s bloody glorious! An unforgettable, immersive thriller drenched with tension and oodles of suspense.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Date is a sharp, twist‑tight thriller that starts with a nightmare scenario and only grows more claustrophobic from there. A year after a perfect first date ends in murder, Miles Deverill is technically a free man—but the novel makes it clear from the start that freedom and innocence aren’t the same thing. Acquitted or not, Miles can’t outrun the headlines, the whispers, or the shadow of Caira Kennedy’s death.

What I loved is how the book leans into that uneasy space between guilt and perception. Miles is trying to rebuild his life, but the world won’t let him forget—and then the messages begin. Threatening, taunting, and delivered in Caira’s own voice. It’s a wonderfully eerie touch, blurring the line between haunting and manipulation, and it sets the tone for the paranoia that follows.

When Miles escapes on a remote road trip with friends, the story shifts into a darker, more isolated register. The forest setting is atmospheric and unsettling, the kind of place where sound carries strangely and trust thins quickly. So when another murder strikes—this time within their group—the tension snaps tight. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on that first date, and the book becomes a clever, spiralling puzzle of truth, lies, and the stories we tell to protect ourselves.

The Date is fast, twisty, and compulsively readable, with that delicious sense of dread that builds quietly until it’s suddenly everywhere. It’s a story about guilt, perception, and the terrifying possibility that the past isn’t finished with you, no matter how far you run.

A gripping, atmospheric thriller where every character feels like a suspect and every truth comes with a cost.

With thanks to TH Murdock, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Courtney-Louise✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got my version of the book from Amazon First Reads.

Such a thrilling read, it really kept me hooked and I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next. Some elements were easy enough to guess but then others were such a shock that my jaw hit the floor when it was revealed. The book centres around Miles after a date went on ended in tragedy as she turned up dead. Miles is soon acquitted as there was no evidence to link him to it so him and several other people went on a holiday to New Zealand. While there, there are several arguments and fall outs. Ultimately, the power to the bus all goes out which leaves the group stranded by a Forest which is closed for a conservation project. One of them goes for a walk through the night and the group suddenly become alarmed when he does not return, so they set out on a mission to try and locate him and this is when they discover that he is also dead... Miles also has a stalker which seemingly knows where he is, what he is doing and what he is drinking at all times which is very strange because there are no giveaways as to who this is. By the end of the book, we discover who committed the murder of Caira Kennedy, the woman who Miles had been on a date with.
This book really did have me hooked, I could not put it down and just had to find out who was behind the stalking and who was behind the murder. Such a whirlwind of an adventure, despite me guessing that the disabling of the bus was done deliberately, I was not able to guess who actually did it and why they did it. Although when you know who does it, you soon realise their motives for disabling it.

[Karin O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️ This was my Amazon First Reads pick. The premise and story really intrigued me & definitely held my attention throughout. I didn’t really connect with or get too invested in the characters, but I did like some, even more so, as the story went on and was interested in what happened to them. Some of the chapters and POV’s though, I just did not understand why they were necessary, lots of information I just wasn’t interested in and I was anxious to get on with the main story. The mystery and action, once that all started, was really good and I couldn’t put the book down until I knew what was going to happen. I was very surprised by the twists. I had made a bunch of guesses while reading and was totally off, which I do love for a mystery/thriller book, of course. ☺️👍👏 I didn’t care for the ending, though, that last reveal/twist and felt a little disappointed. I was surprised, but it involved my least liked character…maybe I should be glad because it wasn’t one that I really liked…but I was kind of bummed as soon as I saw the name. And I just didn’t like the circumstances & the reasoning for how it all happened. It just felt off & kind of “ick” to me and I would have felt much better if it wasn’t left open ended, without anyone knowing the truth and no accountability. But, that’s probably just a me thing & because it was my least liked character, idk. I do get the appeal & excitement of ending a mystery/thriller in that way, though. Overall, it a was a good, interesting read and I enjoyed a great deal of it. It was a good pick. 🙂

[Eva Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Date by T. H. Murdock is a gripping, highly atmospheric debut psychological thriller that immediately hooks the reader with a brilliantly original premise and an intense exploration of the blurred lines between truth and deception.

The story opens with an immediate hook that sets a tense foundation, though the narrative momentum slows down slightly during a post-trial lull before finding its true, relentless stride. The plot hits an explosive turning point once the core friendship group arrives in an isolated New Zealand forest, where the suffocating, claustrophobic wilderness creates a deeply unsettling atmosphere. Trapped in the woods, the characters navigate a web of complex loyalties, hidden tensions, and old secrets while trying to unmask a predatory stalker. While not every member of the flawed, unreliable friend group is particularly likeable, their deep emotional backstories and conflicting motives make them highly believable suspects, leaving the reader completely guessing who to trust.

The final act delivered a breathless sprint packed with action and clever twists that genuinely surprised, though a bit more detailed backstory would have fleshed out the final revelations further. Utilising short, addictive chapters that make it a consummate, fast-paced binge-read, the novel succeeds as a highly entertaining suspense ride that keeps you guessing until the final page. It earns 4 mysterious stars.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Killers and the Truth is Well Hidden Until the End

Miles Deverill meets Caira Kennedy online. They go on their first date December 4th. When Caira is found strangled the next morning, Miles has his life changed forever. Miles is a handsome actor in his late twenties. Caira was a forty year old social worker who spent her career protecting children. When Miles is acquitted of her murder, an avenger appears to torment him through social media. The press doesn't help. They look for the brief moments when he might have an inappropriate expression on his face to get the pictures they want to present to the world. His father Carl, his father, sees the strain the hounding of the press causes Miles and pays for a trip to New Zealand for Miles, his sister Polly, his two old friends George and Reubyn,and his new friend Elis. Elis was his roommate during their acting job together during Covid. He was the alibi that helped save Miles by testifying in court. While in New Zealand, they meet Faith from Australia and Jessie from West Virginia. Miles lies about his name because he doesn't want the young women to Google him and discover his notoriety. Somehow, the avenger knows of their trip to New Zealand and seems privy to much of what they are doing. It's not until the end that we discover the perpetrators of the murders. This story will keep you wondering until the end.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️
This was so well written!! I literally felt like I was watching a movie in my brain the entire time. You can FEEL the anxiousness and fear coming from Miles. The different POVs threw me for surprise seeing that it was still written in third person. Normally, we’d get an inside look into the mind of each character in their POVs, but it wasn’t like that. It was quite interesting and still engaging! I was really surprised to find out that Faith was behind the stalking because she was random and irrelevant. I get that she got super close to Caira and grieved for her death, but her role in the story seemed a bit extreme. As for Reubyn, I didn’t even consider him to be the murderer 😭😳 I really thought somehow it would be Elis or George. I love that the epilogue went deeper in his psyche. It makes sense why he killed Caira. This was such an enjoyable read!!

A quote that got me:
“It’s made me wonder if I should keep this going a little longer. Aside from everything else, it’s nice to have a purpose. I’ve never really had that before. I’m not a religious person, but I’m starting to think this all might be the true meaning of my life – what I was put on Earth to do.”
Faith was insane thinking this way 💀😂

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the multi-perspective and the flashback setting of this Debut novel. I love how you are drawn into the story from the prologue all the way to the end. This author has a way with words that keeps you reading and thinking what will happen next whose perspective will it come from and where will it lead you next. Sometimes flashbacks can be confusing, but not here, each time it was well done and either added to the suspense of the "who dunnit" or delayed the reader from getting too much information too soon. It was threaded with interesting changes in dynamics between the MC and his friends and lead the reader to question loyalties at one point only to question themselves for having done so about certain of the other characters. There were similarities to lead you down the wrong path using word play, but to keep it vague and avoid spoilers I won't elaborate. Despite having a busy week I was still able to finish this in less than 3 days time because it just draws you in a way that you don't want to put it down and want to see what happens next. The twist was a surprise, but once you saw where it was going it made sense and the ah-ha was before the reveal. Will be putting his next book on my wish list.