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Night Calls: A Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26A mother who has vanished into seclusion is forced to revisit her son’s heinous crimes in a haunting psychological thriller by the Edgar Award–winning author of
Or Else
.
Eight years ago, Hattie Conlee’s world was torn apart when her son, Tommy, was convicted of being a serial killer known as the Bedfellow. When Tommy escaped custody, he simply disappeared. So did Hattie. She changed her name and moved to a coastal town in Maine to build an anonymous new life. No one would find her here. Hattie couldn’t have been more wrong.
Now investigative journalist Ross Eeling has come calling. He agrees to keep Hattie’s new identity a secret on one Hattie tell him things she’s never told the vultures of the press before—about her son, the murders of so many innocent women, its impact on a devastated family, and the depths of a mother’s love. Ross wants the truth.
Dredging up the most painful moments of her life is a revelation for Hattie too. Because the past is more complicated and disturbing than she realizes. And its deadly repercussions are far from over.
Eight years ago, Hattie Conlee’s world was torn apart when her son, Tommy, was convicted of being a serial killer known as the Bedfellow. When Tommy escaped custody, he simply disappeared. So did Hattie. She changed her name and moved to a coastal town in Maine to build an anonymous new life. No one would find her here. Hattie couldn’t have been more wrong.
Now investigative journalist Ross Eeling has come calling. He agrees to keep Hattie’s new identity a secret on one Hattie tell him things she’s never told the vultures of the press before—about her son, the murders of so many innocent women, its impact on a devastated family, and the depths of a mother’s love. Ross wants the truth.
Dredging up the most painful moments of her life is a revelation for Hattie too. Because the past is more complicated and disturbing than she realizes. And its deadly repercussions are far from over.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Joe Hart
44 books1,420 followersJoe Hart is the Edgar Award-winning and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of seventeen novels including The River Is Dark, Obscura, The Last Girl, and Or Else. His work has been optioned for film and translated into eight languages. He lives with his family in Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 28, 2026
Joe Hart has quickly emerged as an auto-read author for me. His novels are gripping, mysterious, and laced with emotion.
Night Calls hits all those marks. A grieving mother with a serial killer for a son. Worse yet, he's on the lamb leaving behind more questions than answers. When a nosy journalist starts poking around it threatens to shatter Hattie's house of cards but also ignites something far worse...hope.
There are a lot of red herrings in this book and I think I made about 20 wrong predictions. It kept me guessing until the very last page. However, this is more a character study than an edge of your seat thriller. While it has all the elements of a solid mystery, it's fairly slow-paced and I think what I enjoyed most was the inward reflection it forced. Imagining my son being a convicted serial killer. Living a secret life in order to maintain a hidden connection to a loved one. The doubt, the not knowing, the fear, the shame.
Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse put Joe Hart on my radar and I'm grateful that they did! Night Calls releases September 22, 2026.
Night Calls hits all those marks. A grieving mother with a serial killer for a son. Worse yet, he's on the lamb leaving behind more questions than answers. When a nosy journalist starts poking around it threatens to shatter Hattie's house of cards but also ignites something far worse...hope.
There are a lot of red herrings in this book and I think I made about 20 wrong predictions. It kept me guessing until the very last page. However, this is more a character study than an edge of your seat thriller. While it has all the elements of a solid mystery, it's fairly slow-paced and I think what I enjoyed most was the inward reflection it forced. Imagining my son being a convicted serial killer. Living a secret life in order to maintain a hidden connection to a loved one. The doubt, the not knowing, the fear, the shame.
Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse put Joe Hart on my radar and I'm grateful that they did! Night Calls releases September 22, 2026.
May 21, 2026
WOW!
thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review
i don’t have the right words to describe how fantastic this book was.
i’ve been in a reading slump for over six months and if i could read books this gripping every single day i would never be in one again. it captivated me from the very first page and i devoured it in one sitting and even stopping reading long enough to use the bathroom felt like too long!
joe hart has a way of writing books that grip you and don’t let you go and that’s at the core of what’s so magical about reading. i felt fully immersed into the world he created and i didn’t want to leave
the mystery he wove in this book was completely unique and i was desperate to find out more. the characters were so well developed and complex, leaving you wondering just who you’re supposed to be suspicious of at every turn
i’ll be thinking about this book for awhile and will definitely pick up more books by joe hart
thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review
i don’t have the right words to describe how fantastic this book was.
i’ve been in a reading slump for over six months and if i could read books this gripping every single day i would never be in one again. it captivated me from the very first page and i devoured it in one sitting and even stopping reading long enough to use the bathroom felt like too long!
joe hart has a way of writing books that grip you and don’t let you go and that’s at the core of what’s so magical about reading. i felt fully immersed into the world he created and i didn’t want to leave
the mystery he wove in this book was completely unique and i was desperate to find out more. the characters were so well developed and complex, leaving you wondering just who you’re supposed to be suspicious of at every turn
i’ll be thinking about this book for awhile and will definitely pick up more books by joe hart
July 27, 2026
🔪 M U R D E R E R M O N D A Y review & book tour 🔪 featuring “Night Calls” by Joe Hart!
8 years ago, Hattie Conlee’s life was shattered when her son Tommy was convicted of being the notorious serial killer, The Bedfellow Killer. However, Tommy managed to escape custody and disappeared on the run. With Tommy gone, Hattie decided to do the same. She moved to remote coastal Maine where she created a brand new identity for herself.
Living an anonymous and quiet life doesn’t last for long once investigative journalist Ross Eeling shows up at her door. He has an ultimatum for Hattie … either she tells him everything she knows about her son OR he will expose her new identity and location to the press. Ross wants to write a book on The Bedfellow Killer that isn’t necessarily about the crimes committed, but about the people connected to Tommy … especially his own mother.
Left without a choice, Hattie decides to get the interview over with and is forced to revisit Tommy’s horrific crimes that never made sense to her. She soon finds out that Ross’s book is trying to clear Tommy’s name and show proof that he was set up. This sends Hattie into an investigative spiral of her own focusing on the people in her old life that she thought she could trust the most.
💭 One of my favourite books of the year! This is a raw story about a serial killer’s mother and how she can still stand by and love a monster regardless of his heinous crimes. Hattie’s grief, guilt and heartbreak plays on repeat throughout the story as she is forced to face and fight for the truth. After Tommy’s disappearance she has had no reassurance that he is even still alive besides some silent phone calls in the night. Her isolated life adds such a tense, chilling and foreboding vibe overall that will grip you with shock and anxiety!
Thank you kindly to @joe_hart_author @thrillerbookloversthepulse @thomasmerceruk for my advanced digital copy and spot on this book tour. All opinions are my own. This 5⭐️ book releases on September 22, 2026!
8 years ago, Hattie Conlee’s life was shattered when her son Tommy was convicted of being the notorious serial killer, The Bedfellow Killer. However, Tommy managed to escape custody and disappeared on the run. With Tommy gone, Hattie decided to do the same. She moved to remote coastal Maine where she created a brand new identity for herself.
Living an anonymous and quiet life doesn’t last for long once investigative journalist Ross Eeling shows up at her door. He has an ultimatum for Hattie … either she tells him everything she knows about her son OR he will expose her new identity and location to the press. Ross wants to write a book on The Bedfellow Killer that isn’t necessarily about the crimes committed, but about the people connected to Tommy … especially his own mother.
Left without a choice, Hattie decides to get the interview over with and is forced to revisit Tommy’s horrific crimes that never made sense to her. She soon finds out that Ross’s book is trying to clear Tommy’s name and show proof that he was set up. This sends Hattie into an investigative spiral of her own focusing on the people in her old life that she thought she could trust the most.
💭 One of my favourite books of the year! This is a raw story about a serial killer’s mother and how she can still stand by and love a monster regardless of his heinous crimes. Hattie’s grief, guilt and heartbreak plays on repeat throughout the story as she is forced to face and fight for the truth. After Tommy’s disappearance she has had no reassurance that he is even still alive besides some silent phone calls in the night. Her isolated life adds such a tense, chilling and foreboding vibe overall that will grip you with shock and anxiety!
Thank you kindly to @joe_hart_author @thrillerbookloversthepulse @thomasmerceruk for my advanced digital copy and spot on this book tour. All opinions are my own. This 5⭐️ book releases on September 22, 2026!
July 20, 2026
All I can really say is WOW. I don’t know what I expected from this book but it was a dang page turner. Some of the ends of chapters had me gasping. The main character was easily likable and understandable, and I enjoyed her perspective. The mystery was great. I can’t say too much without giving things away but I promise you’ll be blown away when you figure out what’s actually going on and what’s actually happened. I had a really good time with this one and it was so hard to put down. I’d rate it higher if I could. Coming September 2026. If you love a good psychological thriller make sure to add this one to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"False face must hide what the false heart doth know." (William Shakespeare)
Joe Hart dug deep in this one. His approach is completely unexpected. The minute that we hear "serial killer" in the promo for a novel our expectations ratchet up to follow in the footsteps of the killer. What if the focus falls upon the family of the accused instead? What if the heavy emotions of shame, shock, and disbelief are brought into the light? How does life end abruptly even for those in the killer's own familial circle?
Hattie faces the cold unforgiving winds along the jagged coast of Maine. She's changed every little nugget of her life including her name, her identity, and her location within these past eight years. Everyone in this little town knows her as Mary Whitaker from California. But Mary still painfully knows the Hattie that resides within herself day and night. Night and day.
Hattie lost her husband, Ed, years ago from a massive heart attack while living in Pennsylvania. The couple were clinging to one another in desperation after the news broke that their only son, Tommy, was The Bedfellow, a renowned serial killer. How do you sift through all of that and survive the demands of everyday life? It follows you like every breath released.
So Hattie became Mary. Her secret life suddenly is shattered once more when an investigative journalist, Ross Eeling, sets foot on her property. Slamming the door in his face just won't do. Certainly not. Eeling presses Hattie while threatening to reveal her own dark secret to the public. We'll come to know Hattie's own secret and as readers we wish to protect her as well. How much more devastation can one individual endure? But Hattie curtly agrees to reveal to Eeling her side as a mother of a serial killer. It wounds her with every word.
And then Joe Hart flips the script. Eeling is found dead. But Hattie's troubles are not over with his death. Someone has an agenda here. Hattie, herself, is in a type of danger that she could never envision coming for her. And Night Calls begins to tighten.
Our expectations drive our reviews. Some here on GR rated this one so lowly. Understand that this is a deep character study. If we could only showcase one individual in this novel, it would be Hattie. Her anguish is almost palatable in its telling by Joe Hart. Hart brings out all the emotional deep cuts and bruises through this mother who must bear the weight of reality. She lives as a single vessel in a world that could never ever realize nor understand her pain and her experience. Hart does a splendid job with that alone. Dismiss the controversial ending. Allow Hattie to tell her own story.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Joe Hart for the opportunity.
Joe Hart dug deep in this one. His approach is completely unexpected. The minute that we hear "serial killer" in the promo for a novel our expectations ratchet up to follow in the footsteps of the killer. What if the focus falls upon the family of the accused instead? What if the heavy emotions of shame, shock, and disbelief are brought into the light? How does life end abruptly even for those in the killer's own familial circle?
Hattie faces the cold unforgiving winds along the jagged coast of Maine. She's changed every little nugget of her life including her name, her identity, and her location within these past eight years. Everyone in this little town knows her as Mary Whitaker from California. But Mary still painfully knows the Hattie that resides within herself day and night. Night and day.
Hattie lost her husband, Ed, years ago from a massive heart attack while living in Pennsylvania. The couple were clinging to one another in desperation after the news broke that their only son, Tommy, was The Bedfellow, a renowned serial killer. How do you sift through all of that and survive the demands of everyday life? It follows you like every breath released.
So Hattie became Mary. Her secret life suddenly is shattered once more when an investigative journalist, Ross Eeling, sets foot on her property. Slamming the door in his face just won't do. Certainly not. Eeling presses Hattie while threatening to reveal her own dark secret to the public. We'll come to know Hattie's own secret and as readers we wish to protect her as well. How much more devastation can one individual endure? But Hattie curtly agrees to reveal to Eeling her side as a mother of a serial killer. It wounds her with every word.
And then Joe Hart flips the script. Eeling is found dead. But Hattie's troubles are not over with his death. Someone has an agenda here. Hattie, herself, is in a type of danger that she could never envision coming for her. And Night Calls begins to tighten.
Our expectations drive our reviews. Some here on GR rated this one so lowly. Understand that this is a deep character study. If we could only showcase one individual in this novel, it would be Hattie. Her anguish is almost palatable in its telling by Joe Hart. Hart brings out all the emotional deep cuts and bruises through this mother who must bear the weight of reality. She lives as a single vessel in a world that could never ever realize nor understand her pain and her experience. Hart does a splendid job with that alone. Dismiss the controversial ending. Allow Hattie to tell her own story.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Joe Hart for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐ A Strong Premise Undone by Pacing and a Too-Neat Ending
I received Night Calls by Joe Hart as an ARC from NetGalley, and it was a book I genuinely wanted to enjoy. The premise immediately caught my attention. Hattie Conlee has spent years living under the shadow of her son Tommy's crimes after he was convicted as a serial killer. When investigative journalist Ross Eeling enters her life with new questions and new evidence, Hattie is forced to revisit a past she has spent years trying to escape. What appealed to me most was that this was not really a novel about a serial killer. Instead, it was a story about guilt, shame, family loyalty, and what happens to the people left behind when someone they love commits terrible acts.
Unfortunately, the novel takes a very long time to reach its most compelling material. For roughly the first sixty-five percent of the book, the pacing is painfully slow. I found myself moving from chapter to chapter waiting for meaningful developments, only to receive small pieces of information that did little to advance the story. There were multiple points where I considered setting the book aside altogether. Once the narrative finally shifts into a more active phase, however, the book becomes considerably stronger. The tension increases, the revelations become more interesting, and I found myself eager to keep reading. Ross Eeling was easily the character who intrigued me the most. Much of the novel's momentum comes from the questions surrounding him, and his presence creates a sense of mystery that the book often lacks elsewhere.
What makes the final result so disappointing is that the strongest section of the novel arrives just in time for the ending to undermine it. After investing in the mystery and the growing tension, I expected a conclusion that would challenge the characters and force difficult choices. Instead, the resolution felt overly convenient and surprisingly neat. The novel spends hundreds of pages exploring complicated emotions and fractured relationships, yet the ending resolves matters in a way that felt far easier than the story had earned. I appreciate the themes Joe Hart explores, particularly the emotional burden carried by the family members of notorious criminals, and there were moments when I could see the excellent novel this might have become. In the end, though, the slow pacing and unsatisfying conclusion prevented it from fully delivering on its promise.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Joe Hart, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NightCalls #NetGalley
I received Night Calls by Joe Hart as an ARC from NetGalley, and it was a book I genuinely wanted to enjoy. The premise immediately caught my attention. Hattie Conlee has spent years living under the shadow of her son Tommy's crimes after he was convicted as a serial killer. When investigative journalist Ross Eeling enters her life with new questions and new evidence, Hattie is forced to revisit a past she has spent years trying to escape. What appealed to me most was that this was not really a novel about a serial killer. Instead, it was a story about guilt, shame, family loyalty, and what happens to the people left behind when someone they love commits terrible acts.
Unfortunately, the novel takes a very long time to reach its most compelling material. For roughly the first sixty-five percent of the book, the pacing is painfully slow. I found myself moving from chapter to chapter waiting for meaningful developments, only to receive small pieces of information that did little to advance the story. There were multiple points where I considered setting the book aside altogether. Once the narrative finally shifts into a more active phase, however, the book becomes considerably stronger. The tension increases, the revelations become more interesting, and I found myself eager to keep reading. Ross Eeling was easily the character who intrigued me the most. Much of the novel's momentum comes from the questions surrounding him, and his presence creates a sense of mystery that the book often lacks elsewhere.
What makes the final result so disappointing is that the strongest section of the novel arrives just in time for the ending to undermine it. After investing in the mystery and the growing tension, I expected a conclusion that would challenge the characters and force difficult choices. Instead, the resolution felt overly convenient and surprisingly neat. The novel spends hundreds of pages exploring complicated emotions and fractured relationships, yet the ending resolves matters in a way that felt far easier than the story had earned. I appreciate the themes Joe Hart explores, particularly the emotional burden carried by the family members of notorious criminals, and there were moments when I could see the excellent novel this might have become. In the end, though, the slow pacing and unsatisfying conclusion prevented it from fully delivering on its promise.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Joe Hart, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NightCalls #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 ⭐️
‘How can you miss someone you barely know?’
Eight years ago, Hattie Conlee’s world was torn apart when her only child, Tommy, was convicted of being a murderer and is referred to as the ‘Bedfellow’ Serial Killer. But when Tommy escapes custody and disappears, Hattie realises she needs to do the same … She settles on a new name, story and quiet town to live her anonymous life within - no one could find her on the outskirts of Maine, could they?
She couldn’t have been more wrong.
When investigative journalist Ross Eeling appears at her door, Hattie is left with an ultimatum - tell Eeling everything about her son, his life, the murders and the impact he has left; or he will tell the press her new identity and location. Ross wants the truth but dredging up the most painful moments of her life is also a revelation for Hattie too. She hasn’t picked this home at random and it being made public could ruin more than just her anonymity …
The past is more complicated and disturbing than she realises and its deadly repercussions are far from over …
What an amazingly, interesting and powerful book! Although a psychological thriller, with its backstory of murder, an eerie, isolating setting and suspicious activity surrounding Hattie and her home, this is one of the most emotional books within this category that I have read! The domestic element is so powerful - focusing on the consequences of Tommy’s actions for the people left behind after his conviction; his parents, partner and friends appose to the crimes committed.
A story of a mother’s love, this is a captivating read and I loved Joe Hart’s writing style. The book is immersive and the desperation I felt to know more about the complex characters, their relationships and the trial was gripping. The suspense remains alive throughout the book; will Hattie’s identity and reason for picking this home be revealed? Is she being followed or is she paranoid of everything and everyone?
Guilt, betrayal, loyalty and the long standing argument of nature vs nurture, this is a book that has me thinking long after it was finished. The internal questioning this book made me do was amazing - what would you do or feel if you loved someone who had committed a terrible act? What decisions would you make? It feels shockingly realistic and chilling. It also reminds us that grief doesn’t have to come with death - it can be the loss of something you thought you would have or what you did have.
My first and most definitely not my last Joe Hart book! With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Joe Hart for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
‘How can you miss someone you barely know?’
Eight years ago, Hattie Conlee’s world was torn apart when her only child, Tommy, was convicted of being a murderer and is referred to as the ‘Bedfellow’ Serial Killer. But when Tommy escapes custody and disappears, Hattie realises she needs to do the same … She settles on a new name, story and quiet town to live her anonymous life within - no one could find her on the outskirts of Maine, could they?
She couldn’t have been more wrong.
When investigative journalist Ross Eeling appears at her door, Hattie is left with an ultimatum - tell Eeling everything about her son, his life, the murders and the impact he has left; or he will tell the press her new identity and location. Ross wants the truth but dredging up the most painful moments of her life is also a revelation for Hattie too. She hasn’t picked this home at random and it being made public could ruin more than just her anonymity …
The past is more complicated and disturbing than she realises and its deadly repercussions are far from over …
What an amazingly, interesting and powerful book! Although a psychological thriller, with its backstory of murder, an eerie, isolating setting and suspicious activity surrounding Hattie and her home, this is one of the most emotional books within this category that I have read! The domestic element is so powerful - focusing on the consequences of Tommy’s actions for the people left behind after his conviction; his parents, partner and friends appose to the crimes committed.
A story of a mother’s love, this is a captivating read and I loved Joe Hart’s writing style. The book is immersive and the desperation I felt to know more about the complex characters, their relationships and the trial was gripping. The suspense remains alive throughout the book; will Hattie’s identity and reason for picking this home be revealed? Is she being followed or is she paranoid of everything and everyone?
Guilt, betrayal, loyalty and the long standing argument of nature vs nurture, this is a book that has me thinking long after it was finished. The internal questioning this book made me do was amazing - what would you do or feel if you loved someone who had committed a terrible act? What decisions would you make? It feels shockingly realistic and chilling. It also reminds us that grief doesn’t have to come with death - it can be the loss of something you thought you would have or what you did have.
My first and most definitely not my last Joe Hart book! With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Joe Hart for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆. 𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕? 𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅?
Eight years after her son Tommy was convicted as the serial killer known as the Bedfellow, Hattie Conlee has buried herself inside a new identity in a quiet coastal town in Maine, hoping anonymity might finally give her room to breathe. But when an investigative journalist tracks her down and asks her to revisit the horrors surrounding Tommy’s crimes, the past comes clawing its way back to the surface. What unfolds is not just a thriller about murder and secrets, but a devastating exploration of motherhood, guilt, memory, and the impossible question of whether we are ever truly responsible for the monsters we love.
Joe Hart handles morally gray material with the same effortless precision as Jodi Picoult. He never takes the easy route, and he never reduces his characters to simple answers. What struck me most was how deeply human every single person in this story felt, especially Hattie. Her grief quietly screams from the pages. The shame, the fear, the tiny fractured pieces of hope she still clung to despite everything absolutely wrecked me. Hart has this incredible ability to tap into such painfully specific emotions that it almost feels invasive at times, like he reached into places most people try very hard not to look at. And the way he writes women continues to astound me. These women are not plot devices or stereotypes or vehicles for trauma. They are complicated, sharp, wounded, resilient people who feel achingly real.
By the end of this book, I felt emotionally wrung out. Not because of shock value or twists, although the tension is incredible, but because NIGHT CALLS understands something painful and deeply human about loving someone who has done terrible things. It understands the guilt of hindsight. The desperate need to search the past for warning signs that maybe were never there at all. More than anything, this book reminded me that grief is not always about losing the person you thought you had. Sometimes it is about realizing you never truly knew them to begin with. So many thanks to the author, Thomas and Mercer, and Thriller Book Lovers: the Pulse for the early copy that will publish September 22, 2026.
Eight years after her son Tommy was convicted as the serial killer known as the Bedfellow, Hattie Conlee has buried herself inside a new identity in a quiet coastal town in Maine, hoping anonymity might finally give her room to breathe. But when an investigative journalist tracks her down and asks her to revisit the horrors surrounding Tommy’s crimes, the past comes clawing its way back to the surface. What unfolds is not just a thriller about murder and secrets, but a devastating exploration of motherhood, guilt, memory, and the impossible question of whether we are ever truly responsible for the monsters we love.
Joe Hart handles morally gray material with the same effortless precision as Jodi Picoult. He never takes the easy route, and he never reduces his characters to simple answers. What struck me most was how deeply human every single person in this story felt, especially Hattie. Her grief quietly screams from the pages. The shame, the fear, the tiny fractured pieces of hope she still clung to despite everything absolutely wrecked me. Hart has this incredible ability to tap into such painfully specific emotions that it almost feels invasive at times, like he reached into places most people try very hard not to look at. And the way he writes women continues to astound me. These women are not plot devices or stereotypes or vehicles for trauma. They are complicated, sharp, wounded, resilient people who feel achingly real.
By the end of this book, I felt emotionally wrung out. Not because of shock value or twists, although the tension is incredible, but because NIGHT CALLS understands something painful and deeply human about loving someone who has done terrible things. It understands the guilt of hindsight. The desperate need to search the past for warning signs that maybe were never there at all. More than anything, this book reminded me that grief is not always about losing the person you thought you had. Sometimes it is about realizing you never truly knew them to begin with. So many thanks to the author, Thomas and Mercer, and Thriller Book Lovers: the Pulse for the early copy that will publish September 22, 2026.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing, and Netgalley for this gifted e-ARC...this is my honest review.
📖 Night Calls 📖
Author: Joe Hart
Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer | Amazon Publishing
MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
WOW.
Rarely does a thriller finish with such a brilliant flourish that I am literally left stunned, seemingly unable to formulate a cohesive thought as my mind tries to catch up with the stunningly suspenseful read I just finished.
Friends, prepare yourself to experience that rarity with Night Calls by Joe Hart, publishing September 22, 2026 from Thomas & Mercer.
Hart, I don't know how you do it. Every single one of your books becomes my newest thriller obsession. And leaves me with an absolute certainty that this book, THIS ONE, is your best yet. And somehow, each time I'm right.
All I'm going to tell you about the storyline in this read is that it's told in dual timelines with short chapters from the POV of the mother of a serial killer who's hiding her identity. You get an unreliable narrator, a remote setting, an investigative journalist with a fixation on uncovering the truth at any cost, and an overwhelming sense of creepy foreboding on every single page.
This book gave me such a palpably eerie sense I was being watched, it had me wanting to close my curtains in broad daylight and phone a friend for safety. No joke -- the intensity with which this one had my anxiety spiking was nothing short of phenomenal.
There is not a single Joe Hart book that hasn't had my heart racing from start to finish. And this one was a masterfully twisty and unsettling thriller -- the stuff daymares are made of and an absolute five-star must-read! Trust me when I tell you to just sit down, cancel all your plans, and get comfy -- because once you start this book, you'll be going nowhere until you read the last page.
Without a doubt, this thriller will be one of the best I'll read in 2026 -- and it'll be one of yours too. Standing ovation to you, Joe Hart.
#NightCalls #JoeHart #Thomas&Mercer #AmazonPublishing #ThrillerBookLoversThePulse #Netgalley #fivestarreads #MUSTREADS #thriller #thrilleraddict #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
📖 Night Calls 📖
Author: Joe Hart
Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer | Amazon Publishing
MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
WOW.
Rarely does a thriller finish with such a brilliant flourish that I am literally left stunned, seemingly unable to formulate a cohesive thought as my mind tries to catch up with the stunningly suspenseful read I just finished.
Friends, prepare yourself to experience that rarity with Night Calls by Joe Hart, publishing September 22, 2026 from Thomas & Mercer.
Hart, I don't know how you do it. Every single one of your books becomes my newest thriller obsession. And leaves me with an absolute certainty that this book, THIS ONE, is your best yet. And somehow, each time I'm right.
All I'm going to tell you about the storyline in this read is that it's told in dual timelines with short chapters from the POV of the mother of a serial killer who's hiding her identity. You get an unreliable narrator, a remote setting, an investigative journalist with a fixation on uncovering the truth at any cost, and an overwhelming sense of creepy foreboding on every single page.
This book gave me such a palpably eerie sense I was being watched, it had me wanting to close my curtains in broad daylight and phone a friend for safety. No joke -- the intensity with which this one had my anxiety spiking was nothing short of phenomenal.
There is not a single Joe Hart book that hasn't had my heart racing from start to finish. And this one was a masterfully twisty and unsettling thriller -- the stuff daymares are made of and an absolute five-star must-read! Trust me when I tell you to just sit down, cancel all your plans, and get comfy -- because once you start this book, you'll be going nowhere until you read the last page.
Without a doubt, this thriller will be one of the best I'll read in 2026 -- and it'll be one of yours too. Standing ovation to you, Joe Hart.
#NightCalls #JoeHart #Thomas&Mercer #AmazonPublishing #ThrillerBookLoversThePulse #Netgalley #fivestarreads #MUSTREADS #thriller #thrilleraddict #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, here's to hoping this 5+ star serial killer thriller is the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Joe Hart and the rest of this his catalog! In the acknowledgements, the author says he is always thrilled when his editor tells him, "This might be your best yet." If this is his best so far, the bar is extremely high so even if his earlier books are not as good, they still have to be pretty dang good! But about this one, Night Calls, yes, it has a serial killer, but the story focuses more on Hattie, a serial killer's mother. Hattie's only son Tommy has been serving time for turning out to be the Bedfellow Killer. So named because he lays down and sleeps next to his victim. Creepy, right? Oh, and he escaped about 8 years ago. Hattie and her husband, Ed's lives were totally destroyed in the aftermath and Hattie fled from the scrutiny and wreckage of her life and also from Tommy. He is still out there somewhere. She has changed her name, broken contact with everyone she knew and moved across the country. No one knows where she is. Well, we know. It's the remote coast of Maine. Serial killers and Maine, and I'm all in, but I digress. Hattie has made some tentative new friends, a young couple and their son and an elderly man. She helps take care of him. But then reporter Ross Eeling shows up at her door. Eeling knows exactly who she is and makes her an offer she can't refuse to get an exclusive interview. It's blackmail but Eeling knows enough to blow Hattie's new life out of the water if she doesn't cooperate. The past is brought back into focus. We see the denial as Tommy is first accused. We learn about how all the mounting evidence pointed to Tommy as the Bedfellow and he is arrested. We get an insider look into all of Hattie's guilt. Oh, and Hattie also receives mysterious silent phone calls at night. She suspects it may be Tommy. This was quite an emotional read, and I couldn't put it down! All the feels are there. I can't wait for the next Joe Hart book and am comforted by the fact that he does have those previous titles at least.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Joe Hart and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Joe Hart and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Eight years after her son Tommy was convicted of being the notorious Bedfellow killer, Hattie has secluded herself in a quiet coastal town under an alias. But when a journalist tracks her down, she’s pushed to revisit the devastating ripple effects of Tommy’s crimes, forcing her to wrestle with grief, guilt, motherhood and the uneasy feeling that not everything is as straightforward as it seems.
This was a really solid psychological thriller that felt just as focused on the psychological impact of crime as it was the mystery itself. At its core, it explores the ripple effects one crime can have on a family, particularly through Hattie and the impossible position of loving someone accused of horrific things. I found her incredibly easy to sympathise with, and Hart captures that push and pull between unconditional love, guilt and doubt really well.
I loved that the story doesn’t hand everything to you straight away, instead slowly revealing why things are the way they are and peeling back layers as you read on. Nothing ever feels clear-cut, both in the plot and characters, which kept me engaged from start to finish.
I had suspicions about the Bedfellow killer fairly early on and the eventual culprit was on my suspect list, which can sometimes lessen the impact for me. But here, it didn’t affect my investment at all. Hart plants enough uncertainty around the characters to keep you second-guessing yourself, even when you feel confident in your theories.
The atmosphere was another standout: creepy, unsettling and quietly ominous, with a constant feeling of paranoia, isolation and questioning what’s real.
This may have been my first experience with Joe Hart’s writing, but I’ll definitely be checking out more of his backlist. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a murder mystery at their core, layered characters and emotional depth alongside the suspense, this is well worth picking up.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
This was a really solid psychological thriller that felt just as focused on the psychological impact of crime as it was the mystery itself. At its core, it explores the ripple effects one crime can have on a family, particularly through Hattie and the impossible position of loving someone accused of horrific things. I found her incredibly easy to sympathise with, and Hart captures that push and pull between unconditional love, guilt and doubt really well.
I loved that the story doesn’t hand everything to you straight away, instead slowly revealing why things are the way they are and peeling back layers as you read on. Nothing ever feels clear-cut, both in the plot and characters, which kept me engaged from start to finish.
I had suspicions about the Bedfellow killer fairly early on and the eventual culprit was on my suspect list, which can sometimes lessen the impact for me. But here, it didn’t affect my investment at all. Hart plants enough uncertainty around the characters to keep you second-guessing yourself, even when you feel confident in your theories.
The atmosphere was another standout: creepy, unsettling and quietly ominous, with a constant feeling of paranoia, isolation and questioning what’s real.
This may have been my first experience with Joe Hart’s writing, but I’ll definitely be checking out more of his backlist. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a murder mystery at their core, layered characters and emotional depth alongside the suspense, this is well worth picking up.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 stars rounded up.
First off, the writing in this is great. It grabbed me instantly and held me by the throat until I finished it as fast as I possibly could. Hart definitely has a way with words and the imagery he paints is phenomenal. Hattie and Tommy and Sloan in particular were so well thought-out and felt realistic the entire time. I enjoyed every moment of being in Hattie's head even when things were getting dire.
The first 75% of the book really had me thinking I had a 5 star read on my hands, but the closer we got to the inevitable end, the more my rating dropped. I could see where we were going, and despite hoping against hope the book wasn't going there, it did. It's not that I necessarily wanted a darker ending, but I did think it would have fit the premise better. As it stands, it definitely feels like the plot was wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking. The plot was a messy one to begin with, and it would have made sense if things weren't as clear-cut in the end.
The short chapters were also annoying after a bit. I think they can work well and be very effective when used sparingly, but since the entire book consisted of short chapters it got old after a few hours.
Still, the book is incredibly well-written and I enjoyed the majority of it immensely so I feel comfortable rounding my 3.5 review up to a 4 and I would recommend this without hesitation to my friends who love mystery and thrillers!
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
First off, the writing in this is great. It grabbed me instantly and held me by the throat until I finished it as fast as I possibly could. Hart definitely has a way with words and the imagery he paints is phenomenal. Hattie and Tommy and Sloan in particular were so well thought-out and felt realistic the entire time. I enjoyed every moment of being in Hattie's head even when things were getting dire.
The first 75% of the book really had me thinking I had a 5 star read on my hands, but the closer we got to the inevitable end, the more my rating dropped. I could see where we were going, and despite hoping against hope the book wasn't going there, it did. It's not that I necessarily wanted a darker ending, but I did think it would have fit the premise better. As it stands, it definitely feels like the plot was wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking. The plot was a messy one to begin with, and it would have made sense if things weren't as clear-cut in the end.
The short chapters were also annoying after a bit. I think they can work well and be very effective when used sparingly, but since the entire book consisted of short chapters it got old after a few hours.
Still, the book is incredibly well-written and I enjoyed the majority of it immensely so I feel comfortable rounding my 3.5 review up to a 4 and I would recommend this without hesitation to my friends who love mystery and thrillers!
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, this book was so much more than I expected, and so emotional. I love that it’s not about the crimes of a killer so much as the family left behind and the effect it has on them. In this case, it’s the mother, Hattie, of Tommy, better known as the serial killer The Bedfellow. She moved and changed her name, but somehow, she’s still tracked down by a journalist years later. He pretty much blackmails her into telling her story, and she reluctantly agrees because she can’t afford not to. But he has his own hidden agenda, and she has no idea what’s coming.
There are several other characters that become involved in the story, from neighbors to friends of the family, and they all bring their own complications. As Hattie opens up to Ross, she has to suffer through the events all over again, which she never wanted to do. But in doing so, she opens herself up to new possibilities and realizations that literally change her life. The author does an incredible job of keeping the story suspenseful and twisty while also bringing you to tears. Or maybe that was just me! As a mother of a child the same age as Tommy was at the time, so much of the book resonated deeply with me.
I’m so glad I chose to read this because I’ve discovered a new author and can’t wait to see what else he has to say!
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
There are several other characters that become involved in the story, from neighbors to friends of the family, and they all bring their own complications. As Hattie opens up to Ross, she has to suffer through the events all over again, which she never wanted to do. But in doing so, she opens herself up to new possibilities and realizations that literally change her life. The author does an incredible job of keeping the story suspenseful and twisty while also bringing you to tears. Or maybe that was just me! As a mother of a child the same age as Tommy was at the time, so much of the book resonated deeply with me.
I’m so glad I chose to read this because I’ve discovered a new author and can’t wait to see what else he has to say!
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨I picked up this book in the midst of a deep reading slump when I was struggling to connect with anything. From the first page, I was immediately invested and couldn’t read fast enough. It pulled me right out of my reading slump.
✨The premise of the story as well as the mystery at its heart are quite unique, but what truly sets this book apart is its emotional depth. It's not often that a thriller makes me cry, but this one did just that and more than once.
✨At its heart, this is a devastating exploration of motherhood, guilt, memory, and the impossible question of whether we're responsible for the mistakes made by those we love. Add to that an atmospheric setting, creeping dread plus relentless suspense, and you have a thriller that’s as emotionally affecting as it as chilling.
✨The morally gray themes are handled with care while still forcing the reader to consider how they would navigate the same impossible situations.
✨This was my first book by this author but will certainly not be the last. I highly recommend this one and think it has the perfect atmosphere for spooky season. It’s out September 22, so perfect timing – but read it anytime you can get your hands on it.
✨Off to peruse the Joe Hart backlist.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Serial killer narratives
✨Complex mother-child relationships
✨Morally grey scenarios
✨Impossible choices
✨Coastal Maine settings
✨Atmospheric and eerie books
✨Psychological thrillers
✨Emotional depth
✨The premise of the story as well as the mystery at its heart are quite unique, but what truly sets this book apart is its emotional depth. It's not often that a thriller makes me cry, but this one did just that and more than once.
✨At its heart, this is a devastating exploration of motherhood, guilt, memory, and the impossible question of whether we're responsible for the mistakes made by those we love. Add to that an atmospheric setting, creeping dread plus relentless suspense, and you have a thriller that’s as emotionally affecting as it as chilling.
✨The morally gray themes are handled with care while still forcing the reader to consider how they would navigate the same impossible situations.
✨This was my first book by this author but will certainly not be the last. I highly recommend this one and think it has the perfect atmosphere for spooky season. It’s out September 22, so perfect timing – but read it anytime you can get your hands on it.
✨Off to peruse the Joe Hart backlist.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Serial killer narratives
✨Complex mother-child relationships
✨Morally grey scenarios
✨Impossible choices
✨Coastal Maine settings
✨Atmospheric and eerie books
✨Psychological thrillers
✨Emotional depth
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up for me to 4, because the ending was just THAT good.
This story is told through the lens of the Bedfellow killer's mother Hattie Conlee, who changes her identify and transforms herself into a whole new person in a small coastal town in Maine to avoid her painful past. Not only was Hattie's son convicted of killing multiple women, but he escaped prison and is nowhere to be found, keeping Hattie in a constant paranoid state. One day, writer and journalist Ross Eeling shows up at Hattie's doorstep looking for an exclusive interview to include in his new book about the Bedfellow killer. Throughout the story we follow the consequences of her agreement with Ross and the past she thought she escaped from.
What was marketed as a slow burn suspense thriller ended up being maybe a bit too slow for me within the first half of the book or so, but when my kindle said I was 65% of the way through it really began to pick up. I ended up reading through this one within about 2 days because I was so invested in finding everything out. The characters weren't very relatable to me personally, but I did have so much sympathy for Hattie and everything that she went through as a mother. Great build up, engaging plot, and ending overall! Probably one of the best endings in my 2026 reads so far.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Joe Hart, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This story is told through the lens of the Bedfellow killer's mother Hattie Conlee, who changes her identify and transforms herself into a whole new person in a small coastal town in Maine to avoid her painful past. Not only was Hattie's son convicted of killing multiple women, but he escaped prison and is nowhere to be found, keeping Hattie in a constant paranoid state. One day, writer and journalist Ross Eeling shows up at Hattie's doorstep looking for an exclusive interview to include in his new book about the Bedfellow killer. Throughout the story we follow the consequences of her agreement with Ross and the past she thought she escaped from.
What was marketed as a slow burn suspense thriller ended up being maybe a bit too slow for me within the first half of the book or so, but when my kindle said I was 65% of the way through it really began to pick up. I ended up reading through this one within about 2 days because I was so invested in finding everything out. The characters weren't very relatable to me personally, but I did have so much sympathy for Hattie and everything that she went through as a mother. Great build up, engaging plot, and ending overall! Probably one of the best endings in my 2026 reads so far.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Joe Hart, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Night Calls is a wonderfully unsettling psychological thriller that leans more into atmosphere and emotion than shock value—and it works beautifully.
At its centre is Hattie, a mother living in quiet seclusion after her son was convicted as a serial killer. She’s such a compelling character: guarded, grieving, and constantly trying to reconcile the child she loved with the man he became. When a journalist tracks her down, the story slowly unravels through her memories, and it’s this quiet unpicking of the past that gives the novel its real power.
The pacing is deliberately slow, but it suits the tone. There’s a constant feeling of unease, as though something isn’t quite right—and that sense only grows as more truths come to light. Joe Hart writes with a subtle touch, allowing the tension to build naturally rather than relying on big twists at every turn.
What stood out most for me was the emotional depth. This isn’t just a story about crime; it’s about guilt, love, and the long shadow left behind by violence. It asks difficult questions about how well we really know the people closest to us, and what it means to carry on after something unthinkable.
Atmospheric, thoughtful, and quietly haunting, Night Calls is perfect for readers who enjoy a more reflective, character-driven thriller.
With thanks to Joe Hart, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
At its centre is Hattie, a mother living in quiet seclusion after her son was convicted as a serial killer. She’s such a compelling character: guarded, grieving, and constantly trying to reconcile the child she loved with the man he became. When a journalist tracks her down, the story slowly unravels through her memories, and it’s this quiet unpicking of the past that gives the novel its real power.
The pacing is deliberately slow, but it suits the tone. There’s a constant feeling of unease, as though something isn’t quite right—and that sense only grows as more truths come to light. Joe Hart writes with a subtle touch, allowing the tension to build naturally rather than relying on big twists at every turn.
What stood out most for me was the emotional depth. This isn’t just a story about crime; it’s about guilt, love, and the long shadow left behind by violence. It asks difficult questions about how well we really know the people closest to us, and what it means to carry on after something unthinkable.
Atmospheric, thoughtful, and quietly haunting, Night Calls is perfect for readers who enjoy a more reflective, character-driven thriller.
With thanks to Joe Hart, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Author
Eight years after her son Tommy was convicted as the infamous serial killer known as the Bedfellow, Hattie vanished and rebuilt her life under a new identity in a quiet coastal town in Maine. But when investigative journalist Ross Eeling tracks her down, the fragile walls around her past begin to crack. As Hattie revisits the horrors of Tommy's crimes, long buried truths start clawing their way to the surface. What begins as a search for answers spirals into something darker, forcing her to confront the possibility that the story she's believed all these years may not be the whole truth.
Night Calls had me hooked with its eerie premise and that heavy lingering sense of dread that I love in a thriller. This isn't a fast-paced twist every chapter thriller, it's a slow unraveling of trauma and guilt and the tension is thick. Hattie was a compelling main character, carrying the weight of a past that refuses to stay buried. The emotional depth gave this one an extra weight and the mystery kept me solidly invested and constantly wondering what was real and what has become twisted over time. If you love dark family secrets, unreliable truths and atmospheric thrillers, Night Calls is absolutely worthy of being on your TBR!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Joe Hart, Thomas and Mercer and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for this eARC!
Night Calls had me hooked with its eerie premise and that heavy lingering sense of dread that I love in a thriller. This isn't a fast-paced twist every chapter thriller, it's a slow unraveling of trauma and guilt and the tension is thick. Hattie was a compelling main character, carrying the weight of a past that refuses to stay buried. The emotional depth gave this one an extra weight and the mystery kept me solidly invested and constantly wondering what was real and what has become twisted over time. If you love dark family secrets, unreliable truths and atmospheric thrillers, Night Calls is absolutely worthy of being on your TBR!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Joe Hart, Thomas and Mercer and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I struggled so much with this book. The premise seemed good. The mother of a serial killer and her story behind that role. It was very wordy and drawn out and you could read many pages to have learnt absolutely nothing new. When a Journalist appears to expose her now life in secret and hurt the family around her I thought it was going to get good, sadly not.
I expected something much more than this and found it incredibly bland despite it having such good promise. Most of what I read is like a meandering telling of mundane aspects of her life and memories in too much detail to be of interest. I tried hoping that it would improve but it let me down. It stood out after reading so many incredible books lately.
If you are expecting this to be anything like a serial killer thriller or even just a thriller I’d think again. I truly hoped the ending would redeem it but it just left me with questions and a sense of frustration. There are mixed early reviews so as with all books some may love it and others not.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC of this novel.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
I expected something much more than this and found it incredibly bland despite it having such good promise. Most of what I read is like a meandering telling of mundane aspects of her life and memories in too much detail to be of interest. I tried hoping that it would improve but it let me down. It stood out after reading so many incredible books lately.
If you are expecting this to be anything like a serial killer thriller or even just a thriller I’d think again. I truly hoped the ending would redeem it but it just left me with questions and a sense of frustration. There are mixed early reviews so as with all books some may love it and others not.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC of this novel.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book landed in my lap at the perfect time. How do the parents of a murderer or a serial killer deal with their emotions and how they feel about their child. Do they look at them differently? Constantly reevaluate how they raised him, wondering where they went wrong? Can they just cut off their emotions and not love the person who they are supposed to love the most in this world? It was perfect timing because two people that were in my school killed the two Dartmouth professors and they are back in the news again. I always wondered how that one moment in their child's life affected everyone for years and is still going on today. As I settled in to read Joe Hart's newest, I was shocked that it was about the same topic and trying to find hope within the darkness.
Eight years ago, Hattie Conlee's life was shattered into a thousand pieces when the police arrest her son, Tommy, and convicted him as the serial killer known as the Bedfellow. Hattie has not been able to forgive herself or figure out where her and her husband went wrong with Tommy. She did not think he would have it in him to do something so atrocious. As the details slowly came forth and Hattie sat through the trial, her doubts about her son grew. After her love, Ed, passed away she needed a fresh start. Hattie took on a new name and moved to the Maine coast. Where she has been able to make a few friends and finally breath just a bit easier. Lately Hattie feels as though someone is watching her. Is she just getting into her head or did Tommy finally find her?
This is a slow burn that first ignites your emotions and your heart. I felt for Hattie so deeply. I loved the ending; it is so twisty and left me speechless. The characters are well formed and made me feel attached to them. I love the way in which Joe Hart pulls at your heart, while still having a thrilling read. Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Joe Hart for my gifted copy.
Eight years ago, Hattie Conlee's life was shattered into a thousand pieces when the police arrest her son, Tommy, and convicted him as the serial killer known as the Bedfellow. Hattie has not been able to forgive herself or figure out where her and her husband went wrong with Tommy. She did not think he would have it in him to do something so atrocious. As the details slowly came forth and Hattie sat through the trial, her doubts about her son grew. After her love, Ed, passed away she needed a fresh start. Hattie took on a new name and moved to the Maine coast. Where she has been able to make a few friends and finally breath just a bit easier. Lately Hattie feels as though someone is watching her. Is she just getting into her head or did Tommy finally find her?
This is a slow burn that first ignites your emotions and your heart. I felt for Hattie so deeply. I loved the ending; it is so twisty and left me speechless. The characters are well formed and made me feel attached to them. I love the way in which Joe Hart pulls at your heart, while still having a thrilling read. Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Joe Hart for my gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into with this one, I'm not going to lie. The first couple of chapters, I was lost in the sauce. The ramblings of Hattie's mind completely confused me. What I soon came to realize was that this novel was about a broken woman. Hattie was trying to pick up the pieces of her life after her son was convicted of being a serial killer. She was trying to find a semblance of normalcy after her world was turned upside down, amidst loss after loss. Then one day a journalist showed up at her door to interview her because he wanted to write a story about her son. No one was supposed to know where she was because she was in hiding, so this is where the scales of the book tipped. The whole vibe completely changed. Hattie came out of her shell and went into this vigilant, on-edge mode. Things really started to get tense and good. Once they escalated, everything had a snowball effect. It just kept piling on and on and getting better and better. I thought I had this figured out and knew the direction this story was taking, but I was completely wrong. The twists and that ending were completely shocking! If you love a story that shows the lengths a mother's love for a child will drive a person to go, you should consider reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Night Calls
By: Joe Hart
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: Sept 22, 2026
Tour: Thriller Book Lovers THE PULSE
This is my 3rd book by Hart, and my favorite so far. This plot is so atmospheric that I was picturing this as movie. Mystery, Thriller and characters that make you think.
Imagine a mother who is trying to move on from her son’s past. Being associated with a serial killer had to be difficult. After Hattie’s son, Tommy escaped from custody he was not heard from again. Was he guilty? Where is he? Is he trying to clear his name? So many possibilities!!!
Moving to Maine, she changes her name and tries to live her life. Unfortunately, a new journalist, Ross discovers her true identity along with who her son was. He is looking for answers, but agrees to keep her identity.
Harts complicated mystery and my sympathy and compassion for Hattie is profound. The tension builds and does not let go. I can’t imagine finding out someone you love has done such horrific things. Being able to move forward proves harder than you think.
The PULSE loves this author and this is another page turner. Thank you Hart for sharing your ARC with us.
By: Joe Hart
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: Sept 22, 2026
Tour: Thriller Book Lovers THE PULSE
This is my 3rd book by Hart, and my favorite so far. This plot is so atmospheric that I was picturing this as movie. Mystery, Thriller and characters that make you think.
Imagine a mother who is trying to move on from her son’s past. Being associated with a serial killer had to be difficult. After Hattie’s son, Tommy escaped from custody he was not heard from again. Was he guilty? Where is he? Is he trying to clear his name? So many possibilities!!!
Moving to Maine, she changes her name and tries to live her life. Unfortunately, a new journalist, Ross discovers her true identity along with who her son was. He is looking for answers, but agrees to keep her identity.
Harts complicated mystery and my sympathy and compassion for Hattie is profound. The tension builds and does not let go. I can’t imagine finding out someone you love has done such horrific things. Being able to move forward proves harder than you think.
The PULSE loves this author and this is another page turner. Thank you Hart for sharing your ARC with us.
Review of advance copy
Night Calls was a really intriguing, suspenseful, psychological thriller. I love the thrill surrounding serial killers and the eerie, dark feel it brings to a story. But this story being focused on the mother of the character who seems to be a very unreliable narrator was a great twist to this story.
Hattie is living a secluded life in solitude in attempt to hide and escape from her past. Eight years ago, Hattie's son, Tommy, was convicted of being the Bedfellow serial killer before he was able to escape. But when he did, he disappeared. That's when Hattie went into her life of anonymity, thinking no one would find her. That is, until, investigative journalist, Ross Eeling finds her. He promises to keep Hattie's secret as he writes a story about Tommy, forcing Hattie to rehash the past and painful memories. And then... the story begins to get very twisty.
The story is well written and had me flying through the pages. Hattie's character is so layered. I felt emotional for her feelings of guilt and the depths of her love and grief. Joe Hart did an amazing job with this one. I highly recommend giving this a read!
Hattie is living a secluded life in solitude in attempt to hide and escape from her past. Eight years ago, Hattie's son, Tommy, was convicted of being the Bedfellow serial killer before he was able to escape. But when he did, he disappeared. That's when Hattie went into her life of anonymity, thinking no one would find her. That is, until, investigative journalist, Ross Eeling finds her. He promises to keep Hattie's secret as he writes a story about Tommy, forcing Hattie to rehash the past and painful memories. And then... the story begins to get very twisty.
The story is well written and had me flying through the pages. Hattie's character is so layered. I felt emotional for her feelings of guilt and the depths of her love and grief. Joe Hart did an amazing job with this one. I highly recommend giving this a read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
an emotional, slow burning mystery with incredibly haunting elements.
joe hart never ceases to amaze me. this was such a smart story, it transported me to maine & broke my heart along the way.
hart explores grief & loss exceptionally well in this book. i felt every emotion hattie experienced, she communicated directly to the reader not just in her internal dialogues, but in her actions, her movements & her connection to the sea. her grief carried this story.
i've said this about his books before, and i'll say it again. hart does not rely on formulaic twists to sell the story, he carefully crafts complex characters with purpose & motive & his endings will always take you by surprise.
while i do think julian's story could have been further developed, the focus of the book was truly on hattie & the impact tommy's past had on her present.
if you're new to joe hart's books, i would definitely recommend starting with this one.
thank you so much to the publisher for the eArc. all opinions are my own.
joe hart never ceases to amaze me. this was such a smart story, it transported me to maine & broke my heart along the way.
hart explores grief & loss exceptionally well in this book. i felt every emotion hattie experienced, she communicated directly to the reader not just in her internal dialogues, but in her actions, her movements & her connection to the sea. her grief carried this story.
i've said this about his books before, and i'll say it again. hart does not rely on formulaic twists to sell the story, he carefully crafts complex characters with purpose & motive & his endings will always take you by surprise.
while i do think julian's story could have been further developed, the focus of the book was truly on hattie & the impact tommy's past had on her present.
if you're new to joe hart's books, i would definitely recommend starting with this one.
thank you so much to the publisher for the eArc. all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
After her son was convicted as the notorious Bedfellow killer, Hattie knew she had to change her name and move away. She chose her current town for a specific reason. And now, a journalist has tracked her down!
Now she's forced to relive not only the horror of Tommy's conviction and trial, but the sudden death of her husband in the aftermath. What did she miss? Could she have changed the course of history so that Tommy never committed those murders? And what about the young boy she babysits? Is he just acting out, or does he, too, have dark tendencies?
This was a heartfelt story of hope, shattered lives, secrets, and emotional damage. There is an overarching chill in the air, an atmospheric fog over the water, and the menacing presence that Hattie feels when she returns to her cottage at night. The mysterious phone calls to her old phone. And the phrase that the journalist leaves her with: "Maybe you'll even thank me."
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for an eARC by an author I was long overdue to read!
Now she's forced to relive not only the horror of Tommy's conviction and trial, but the sudden death of her husband in the aftermath. What did she miss? Could she have changed the course of history so that Tommy never committed those murders? And what about the young boy she babysits? Is he just acting out, or does he, too, have dark tendencies?
This was a heartfelt story of hope, shattered lives, secrets, and emotional damage. There is an overarching chill in the air, an atmospheric fog over the water, and the menacing presence that Hattie feels when she returns to her cottage at night. The mysterious phone calls to her old phone. And the phrase that the journalist leaves her with: "Maybe you'll even thank me."
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for an eARC by an author I was long overdue to read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed reading about the double lives, and I loved the coastal Maine setting. The things that can happen when one moves to a new town and begins a life with a new identity was an interesting premise. However, I found jumping around in time confusing, not to mention the daymares. It took a long time to get to the compelling part of the book, but then the ending was abrupt. At one point I consoled myself that everything probably made more sense to the people who had read the previous books in the series. Then I found out there weren't any previous books...
So many people have loved Night Calls but I'm sad to say I wasn't one of them. If anyone needs me I can be found on Outlier Isle.
Thank you, #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Night Calls has an expected publication date of Sept 22, 2026.
#Mystery #Family #Crime
So many people have loved Night Calls but I'm sad to say I wasn't one of them. If anyone needs me I can be found on Outlier Isle.
Thank you, #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Night Calls has an expected publication date of Sept 22, 2026.
#Mystery #Family #Crime
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was pretty lackluster.
From the beginning I didn't love the way it was written. It was a little slow and sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to be poetic.
Around the midway point I got really invested in the mystery and things were great! A solid 4 stars at least! I was never really surprised by anything but it was fun to see the pieces come together. I started to really care for Hattie.
The last three or so chapters really killed this for me unfortunately. Like, oh, that ties up fairly neatly! Oh...we are doing another twist...oh another one...oh we forgot about several things from earlier, huh...
Still, though, it is mostly competently written and I really enjoyed at least, like, half of it. So you could do much worse!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
From the beginning I didn't love the way it was written. It was a little slow and sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to be poetic.
Around the midway point I got really invested in the mystery and things were great! A solid 4 stars at least! I was never really surprised by anything but it was fun to see the pieces come together. I started to really care for Hattie.
The last three or so chapters really killed this for me unfortunately. Like, oh, that ties up fairly neatly! Oh...we are doing another twist...oh another one...oh we forgot about several things from earlier, huh...
Still, though, it is mostly competently written and I really enjoyed at least, like, half of it. So you could do much worse!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2026
I went into this expecting a twisty thriller, but found something quieter and more focused on the aftermath of a crime than the mystery itself.
Hattie, whose son was convicted as a serial killer, moves to a coastal town hoping to disappear—but the past has other plans. While this isn’t packed with shocking twists, it builds tension steadily and explores the shame, judgement, and lasting impact that ripple through families.
One line that really stayed with me: “…he never made me feel like it was my fault. Not ever. That kind of love is salvation.”
The first half is slow, but it lays important groundwork. Although I was hoping for a bigger payoff from the main reveal and had a few lingering questions by the end, I still enjoyed the emotional depth and character-driven story.
⭐️ 3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
Hattie, whose son was convicted as a serial killer, moves to a coastal town hoping to disappear—but the past has other plans. While this isn’t packed with shocking twists, it builds tension steadily and explores the shame, judgement, and lasting impact that ripple through families.
One line that really stayed with me: “…he never made me feel like it was my fault. Not ever. That kind of love is salvation.”
The first half is slow, but it lays important groundwork. Although I was hoping for a bigger payoff from the main reveal and had a few lingering questions by the end, I still enjoyed the emotional depth and character-driven story.
⭐️ 3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a good read! I ended up reading it in one day because once I started, I did not want to put it down. The story follows Hattie, a mother trying to hide from a past tied to her serial killer son, and I was completely invested in her journey from the very beginning.
I really liked Hattie as the main character. As a mom, I found myself feeling for her and trying to imagine the impossible situation she was put in. Her emotions felt real, and I loved how the story explored the lengths a mother will go for the people she loves.
The setting and pacing were definitely on the slower side, but not in a way that made the story drag. Instead, it slowly pulled me in and built up the tension with every chapter. The more pieces of the past were revealed, the more I needed to know what really happened.
This book is packed with family secrets, emotional moments, and plenty of suspense. The psychological aspect kept me hooked, and I loved uncovering the truth alongside the characters. If you enjoy character-driven thrillers with a slow-burn atmosphere and a story that keeps you turning the pages, I highly recommend picking this one up! 📚
I really liked Hattie as the main character. As a mom, I found myself feeling for her and trying to imagine the impossible situation she was put in. Her emotions felt real, and I loved how the story explored the lengths a mother will go for the people she loves.
The setting and pacing were definitely on the slower side, but not in a way that made the story drag. Instead, it slowly pulled me in and built up the tension with every chapter. The more pieces of the past were revealed, the more I needed to know what really happened.
This book is packed with family secrets, emotional moments, and plenty of suspense. The psychological aspect kept me hooked, and I loved uncovering the truth alongside the characters. If you enjoy character-driven thrillers with a slow-burn atmosphere and a story that keeps you turning the pages, I highly recommend picking this one up! 📚
June 28, 2026
Night Calls is a gripping, character driven thriller that kept me turning the pages. Hattie Conlee has spent years living with the knowledge that her son was the notorious Bedfellow Killer. When journalist Ross Eeling arrives asking questions, she’s forced to confront a past she’d rather leave behind.
Hattie was the standout for me. She’s a sympathetic, complex character trying to make sense of the unimaginable, and I quickly became invested in her story. Ross was a great foil, determined to uncover the truth but gradually realising there’s far more to the case than he first thought.
The tension builds steadily, with plenty of twists and emotional moments along the way. A compelling thriller that explores guilt, grief and the lasting impact of evil.
With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Hattie was the standout for me. She’s a sympathetic, complex character trying to make sense of the unimaginable, and I quickly became invested in her story. Ross was a great foil, determined to uncover the truth but gradually realising there’s far more to the case than he first thought.
The tension builds steadily, with plenty of twists and emotional moments along the way. A compelling thriller that explores guilt, grief and the lasting impact of evil.
With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hart does a great job with a mystery that twists and turns its way through its unraveling.
When Hattie's son Tommy was arrested, tried and convicted of being an infamous serial killer, she
moved away and reinvented herself. Settling into a small seaside community in Maine, she has made friends and started a new life.
Now, her past may be catching up with her. When a journalist tracks her down and appears on her doorstep,
threatening to tell her neighbors who she really is, unless she agrees to be interviewed for a book he is writing on her son, she agrees
Immediately, things begin to fall apart.
Riveting mystery with various strings being pulled and ricocheting in all directions.
Good read.
When Hattie's son Tommy was arrested, tried and convicted of being an infamous serial killer, she
moved away and reinvented herself. Settling into a small seaside community in Maine, she has made friends and started a new life.
Now, her past may be catching up with her. When a journalist tracks her down and appears on her doorstep,
threatening to tell her neighbors who she really is, unless she agrees to be interviewed for a book he is writing on her son, she agrees
Immediately, things begin to fall apart.
Riveting mystery with various strings being pulled and ricocheting in all directions.
Good read.
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